Thoughts of Suicide: 6 Medication & Treatments for Relief

When thoughts of suicide begin to surface, they can feel frightening and isolating — but they’re also treatable. Advancements in mental health care and psychotherapy have helped many people gain a renewed sense of hope and purpose. Using a combination of evidence-based, outpatient therapies, Psychiatry Treatment Centers helps people pave personalized pathways toward better mental health, including those with nonemergent suicidal ideation. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the medications and advanced methods used to treat suicidal ideation.

Understanding suicidal thoughts

Suicidal ideation is what it’s called when a person thinks about or feels preoccupied with the idea of death and suicide. These thoughts and feelings look different for each person, and they can vary in intensity level. Mental health professionals have identified two types of suicidal thoughts:

Passive suicidal ideation — This is when someone wishes not be alive.
Active suicidal ideation — This is when someone actively plans to end their life.

Many possible causes can be behind these thoughts, such as certain biological factors, relationships, stress or negative life events. Some mental health conditions, like depression, bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), can also increase a person’s risk. Possible warning signs that you or a loved one is contemplating suicide include:

Talking about ending one’s life
Feeling hopeless, anxious or without a reason to live
Feeling trapped or like a burden to others
Getting the materials to carry out their plan
Increased substance use or misuse
Mood swings, anger, rage or irritability
Self-isolation
Risk-taking behavior
Giving away possessions
Saying goodbye to loved ones

If you or someone you love is struggling, immediate help is available. Call or text 988, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, for support.

5 medications prescribed for suicidal ideation

The first step is to talk to a health care professional about how you’ve been feeling. They can perform a medical exam, assess your risk of self-harm and recommend several support strategies. Each person should receive a treatment plan, which typically includes a combination of psychotherapy, medications and lifestyle changes that can help reduce their risk of suicide.

Keep in mind that medication isn’t a cure-all for the thoughts you’re having. It’s designed to treat the underlying cause behind your suicidal thoughts, whether it’s depression or another disorder. For example, some of the medications used to treat suicidal ideation include:

1. Antidepressants

Antidepressants are commonly prescribed to treat specific mental health disorders that can contribute to suicidal thoughts. This includes depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder and others. They typically work to rebalance the neurotransmitters in the brain associated with mood regulation. Common antidepressants include:

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
Norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs)
Serotonin modulators and stimulators (SMS)
Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) (not as commonly prescribed)

2. Ketamine

Ketamine is still being studied, but research suggests that it can have a therapeutic effect on suicidal ideation. This drug works by blocking the NMDA receptors in the brain, which may help increase glutamate activity and lead to more mood-enhancing neurotransmitters like serotonin. It’s usually administered through intravenous (IV) infusions over the course of a few weeks.

3. Esketamine

Esketamine, a derivative of ketamine, is branded under the name Spravato®. This medication is FDA approved to treat treatment-resistant forms of major depressive disorder (MDD) and major depressive disorder with suicidal ideation or behavior (MDSI). Administered under the supervision of a health care professional, Spravato® works by targeting the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in the brain. This can help increase the protein that supports its neuroplasticity (the brain’s ability to change and adapt) and improve cognitive function.

4. Lithium

Lithium is an FDA-approved mood stabilizer commonly used to treat bipolar disorder. It works to regulate brain activity by rebalancing the substances that affect a person’s mood, thoughts and actions. It can also be used as an additional agent for depression to reduce symptoms of suicidal behavior.

5. Abilify

Abilify is an antipsychotic medication that’s prescribed to patients with primary psychotic disorders, however can also be used as an additional agent for unipolar depression.. It’s designed to help stabilize the dopamine system in the brain.

Specialized treatment for suicidal ideation: TMS therapy

An advanced treatment option that your provider may recommend for the conditions behind suicidal ideation is transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). TMS therapy is an FDA-approved, noninvasive treatment for people experiencing a treatment-resistant mental health disorder, such as:

Major depressive disorder (MDD)
Anxious depression
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

During TMS therapy, your provider uses electromagnetic pulses to target areas of your brain that are responsible for your symptoms. These areas are associated with your brain’s reward center. By stimulating these neuronal networks, TMS helps improve mood and reduce suicidal thoughts.

TMS therapy spans a series of sessions; 36 over the course of six to eight weeks is the standard treatment protocol. Many patients notice gradual improvements within the first few weeks, but each person’s experience is a little different. And even though this is a medication-free treatment option, your provider may recommend that you continue to take your mental health medication.

Reach out to Psychiatry Treatment Centers for compassionate outpatient mental health treatment

Through personalized support and intervention, recovery is possible. Taking that first step can help you find the relief, connection and stability you’ve been seeking. Serving patients across California and Georgia, Psychiatry Treatment Centers offers several outpatient treatments for mental health disorders, including those that may lead to suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Our treatments are led by a compassionate care team that may include the following: