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Paxil Update
In the fall of 2001: Chris began taking Paxil. In the months following, he began to experience severe depression, insomnia, violent “waking nightmares," inexplicable feeling of aggression, and thoughts of suicide. By July of 2002, Chris began to exhibit signs of suicidal behavior.
In
the early morning hours of
December 1992: Paxil is introduced in the U.S. market. From it's inception, medical researchers throughout the world documented Paxil's propensity for dependence/withdrawal symptoms when patients attempt to reduce or discontinue taking Paxil. These observations have been published in an abundance of peer reviewed medical journal articles. Baum, Hedlund, Aristei, Guilford & Schiavo (Paxil Litigation Update June 19, 2003). 1 May 1997: SmithKline Beecham issued a sales memo: A vivid reminder of the importance of Paxil to GlaxoSmithKline is found in a 1997 sales memo where sales reps are reminded, "Let's face it in the end. [sic] The only thing the anxious and agitated patient will be saying is: 'Where's my Paxil!!!!!!'" The comment is illustrated by a cartoon of a screaming woman at the bottom of page 2 of the memo. September 1997: In an internal sales document GlaxoSmithKline graphically explains the importance of Paxil to the company. The discontinuation of use of the drug Paxil would cost the company BILLIONS. This statement is illustrated by a large, black money bag. 24 August 2001: The first case brought against GlaxoSmithKline was filed as a nationwide class action by 35 named plaintiffs. December 2001: GlaxoSmithKline was required by the FDA to revise its Paxil label to acknowledge that the drug can cause withdrawal reactions. Despite the label modification, GlaxoSmithKline's television advertisements and promotional brochures continued to contradict the new label and further mislead consumers and doctors about whether Paxil can cause severe withdrawal symptoms. 23 July 2002: Paxil manufacturer Glaxo-Smith-Kline (GSK) secretly settled its appeal of the ruling in the Paxil trial last year. 16 August 2002: The judge in the case granted the plaintiff's motion and ordered GlaxoSmithKline to pull its television ads claiming that Paxil may cause mild temporary side effects, but Paxil is not associated with dependency addiction and is not habit forming. Within two days the FDA stepped in to argue that the Court did not have jurisdiction to disallow GlaxoSmithKline to air the commercials. Our government at work to protect us. 16 October 2002: Paxil is Forever! http://citypages.com/databank/23/1141/article10788.asp Article by Beth Hawkins, in the St Paul, Minnesota "City News" In a year of tumbling stock prices, accounting scandals, and shaky consumer spending, the British pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline has had remarkably good news to report so far... Paxil! However, the bad news for those taking the drug is they may never get off of it. Paxil is Forever! 9 June 2003: The United Kingdom banned the use of Paxil for treatment of children and adolecents. 18 June 2003: Nine days after the United Kingdom ban, the FDA announced that Paxil should not be prescribed for children and adolescents under age 18 in the U.S. 5 April
2004: Reported this date - FDA Congressional
investigations underway re FDA’s failure to protect public health.
"The position taken by the FDA (and broadly disseminated in the national
media) about its request that
antidepressant drug makers warn of a suicide risk in adults
and children, has been
that, even though it has requested this warning, such a risk
might not actually exist.
These public statements are contrary to the findings of
the FDA’s own scientists who
have concluded otherwise. Indeed, the FDA has suppressed these findings and engaged a group from
Columbia
December 2004: "This is about money," said Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., member of a congressional committee investigating antidepressant manufacturers. "This is not about science, because what they're doing is withholding the scientific information, suppressing the studies that could have a negative impact on their sales and their profits." 9 December 2004: ABC News uncovered documents that suggest GlaxoSmithKline failed to disclose information about the possibility of an increased risk of suicidal behavior in children taking Paxil, as well as serious withdrwal symptoms in some patients when they stop taking Paxil. A recent survey shows that as many as 75% of doctors are unaware that Paxil causes dependency/withdrawal syndrome. July 2005: The FDA published an Alert Suicidal Thoughts or Actions in Children and Adults. "Patients with depression or other mental illnesses often think about or attempt suicide. Closely watch anyone taking antidepressants, especially early in treatment or when the dose is changed. Patients who become irritable or anxious, or have new or increased thoughts of suicide or other changes in mood or behavior (or their care givers) should contact their healthcare professional right away." Note: This alert seems to soften the the announcement made 2 and 1/2 years earlier. See above. 22 August 2005: New Your (Cnn/Money) - Paxil, a blockbuster antidepressant from British drug maker GlazoSmithKline, increases the risk of suicide in adults, according to a study by Norwegian researchers. 12 May 2006: GlaxoSmithKline and the FDA warn in a letter to doctors that Paxil increases the risk of suicide in young adults between the ages of 18 and 30.
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