Paxil and Teenage Suicide
The makers of Paxil (a popular anti-depressant medication) recently sent a letter to doctors warning the drug caused a six-fold increase in the risk of suicidal behavior in young adults.
The drug maker GlaxoSmithKline conducted its own study of over 14,000 patients which showed a higher frequency of suicidal behavior in young adults (ages 18-24) treated with paroxetine (Paxil and Paxil CR) compared with placebo. Read the letter from GlaxoSmithKine to Health Care Professionals.
The FDA issued a Public Health Advisory on March 22, 2004, cautioning physicians, their patients, and families about the need to closely monitor all patients being treated with antidepressants. The agency mandated heightened warnings on the labels of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), the class of antidepressant medications that includes Paxil as well as Prozac and Zoloft.
The Agency later issued another Advisory warning of an increased risk for suicidal behavior in adult patients as well (www.FDA.gov).
GlaxoSmithKline (the world's second largest pharmaceutical company) recently agreed to pay $65 million dollars to settle a class-action lawsuit over its antidepressant drug Paxil. While this particular lawsuit didn't involve the safety or effectiveness of Paxil, many believe it is just one more example of corporate greed at the expense of consumers.