| Paxil (generic paroxetine hydrochloride) is an antidepressant manufactured by the pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline, which makes billions in dollars in profit from the sale of Paxil every year. Paxil is approved by the FDA (Federal Food and Drug Administration) to treat depression, anxiety, panic, obsessive-compulsive activity, and post traumatic stress in adults. It’s not approved for the treatment of children under 18, because studies have failed to prove Paxil is an effective treatment for children. Paxil is known as a SSRI drug (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor).
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Paxil has been the focus of debates about safety and the target of several official warnings. In March 2006 an FDA research team reviewed studies on children and suicide and concluded that SSRI use increases risks for suicidal thoughts and behavior in patients under 18, but concluded that the increase might appear because more of the patients were reporting their thoughts. The researchers recommended that treatment with SSRIs be discontinued if suicidal thoughts or activity occurs or that antipsychotic or antimanic medication be added.
In March 2006 Health Canada issued a strongly worked warning to all pregnant women to take great care in using SSRIs during pregnancy because of the risk of danger to their babies that could be life threatening. Pregnant women were advised to discuss the dangers with their health care providers.
The FDA has issued 2 warnings about the dangers of Paxil side effects. The most recent was issued in December 2005 warning about the risks of birth defects in infants born to women who took Paxil during the first trimester of pregnancy. Paxil increased “the risk of congenital malformations, particularly cardiovascular malformations.” Paxil has been more likely to cause birth defects than other SSRIs.
An earlier FDA Public Health Advisory warning was given in October 2003, to inform the public about possible increases in suicide and violence in children and teenagers using Paxil. A few months earlier, in June, the British drug regulatory agency had ruled that Paxil should not be prescribed for children. The FDA has not banned the use of SSRIs for children under 18, in spite of a lack of evidence that the treatment with drugs like Paxil is effective for patients in that age group. The FDA has chosen to rely on increased warnings.
Check out the following articles for more information about Paxil, filing a Paxil lawsuit and finding a Paxil attorney:
Suffered harm from Paxil? You may have a lawsuit. Click here, for a top rated law firm to evaluate your legal rights.
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