What is Paxil?
Paxil, marketed by GlaxoSmithKline, has the generic name of paroxetine hydrochloride. Paxil is classified as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, more commonly known as SSRIs. The class of SSRIs includes other high profile antidepressants such as Prozac and Zoloft. Paxil is prescribed in order to treat mental depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and panic and anxiety disorders. Depression can be an extremely debilitating problem that affects millions of people across the country, resulting in feelings of great sadness and sense of worthlessness and hopelessness. Some studies have indicated that depression may be caused by an imbalance of the neurotransmitter brain chemical known as serotonin. Paxil is designed to enhance the use of serotonin in the brain to improve the sending of nerve impulses, in the hopes of treating symptoms of depression.
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Paxil Black Box Warning and Child Suicide
Analyses of short term placebo controlled trials involving nine antidepressants, including SSRIs, has shown that there may be an increase in suicidal thinking or behavior in children during the first months of treatment. The analyses took into consideration 24 trials involving 4400 patients. These studies indicate that there may be as much as a two-fold increase in the risk of suicide amongst children who were given antidepressants as opposed to the children in the study who were given a placebo. In October of 2004, the FDA issued a public health advisory concerning antidepressants and possible links to an increase in child suicide ideation. The FDA ordered the manufacturers of antidepressants to include a "black box warning" on the drug labels, alerting users of the drugs of the possible link between antidepressants and child suicide. Paxil is included amongst those drugs required to carry the new warning along with other popular antidepressants including Wellbutrin, Zoloft, and Prozac. The black box warning is the strongest warning the FDA has available to it. The material included in the black box warning must be incorporated on the label as well as all advertisements for the drugs. The black box warning for these antidepressants concerns the link between antidepressants and child suicide, however, the link between treatment with antidepressants and an increase in suicidal thoughts or actions may apply to adults as well as children and adolescents.
Paxil and Birth Defects Warning
Recently, the FDA has reported that preliminary findings from new studies have indicated that Paxil may cause birth defects when taken by pregnant women in their first trimester (the first three months of pregnancy). Early indications from two studies show that women who take Paxil during the first trimester of pregnancy may be approximately one and a half to two times as likely to have a baby with a heart defect, when compared to women using alternative antidepressant medications, and women in general. According to the FDA, patients taking Paxil who are pregnant or intend to get pregnant should discuss the possible effects of Paxil with their physicians.
Questions and Consultations
If you or a family member has used the prescription drug Paxil and noticed adverse side effects, such as suicidal thoughts or birth defects, you should contact a physician immediately. If you would like to discuss your rights, are interested in more information on Paxil litigation, or if you have information about the cases that you would like to share with us, please click here to fill out a short evaluation form, and a member of Seeger Weiss LLP's experienced staff will call you to discuss your potential rights concerning Paxil. Attorney consultations incur no obligation on your part and all initial consultations are free of charge and do not create an attorney-client relationship. Seeger Weiss LLP has office locations in both New York and New Jersey and its attorneys practice in courts throughout the country.
Link To Lawyer Seek's Paxil Content:
<a href='http://www.lawyerseek.com/Practice/Pharmaceutical-Injury-C1/Paxil-P66/'>Paxil: Lawyer Seek</a> |
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