Modeling of the Temporal Patterns of Fluoxetine Prescriptions and Suicide Rates in the United States

The associations between suicide rates & dispensing of fluoxetine in the United States during 1960-2002 were examined. Suicide rates fluctuated between 12.2 & 13.7 per 100,000 for the entire population from the early 1960s until 1988. Since then, suicide rates have gradually declined; this decline is significantly associated with increased numbers of fluoxetine prescriptions dispensed. Mathematical modeling indicates that since the introduction of fluoxetine in 1988 through 2000, there has been a cumulative decrease in expected suicide mortality of 33,600 individuals. (48 refs.)