Paxil use in youth: What's the answer?

It is one thing to accept the risks of any medication like Paxil when you yourself are taking them, but it is quite another for parents to assume that risk on behalf of their children. Yet that is what many parents are forced to do – and often they do not have all the information in order to make an informed decision.

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in April 2007 seemed to indicate that despite the big scare about an increased risk in suicides for young people on antidepressants, the benefits outweigh the risks. The study, a literature review of 27 clinical trials involving Paxil, Prozac, and Zoloft taken by depressed teenagers and children, found that on average most patients felt better after taking the medication.

It also found that suicidal tendencies did increase for those taking Paxil or one of the other antidepressants, but not as much as previously thought. In this review, the researchers found a 3% rate of suicide attempts in the group taking a drug versus 2% of those who received the placebo.

Connected with this study was the fact that suicide rates for youths actually increased by 18% between 2003 and 2004. This was the year that the FDA first announced that antidepressants could actually cause suicidal and violent tendencies in youth. Prescriptions dropped by about 20% during this time.

Right from the beginning, Paxil and other similar drugs have been known to adversely affect a certain percentage of people. Initially clinical trials identified that some people – even those who did not have suicidal tendencies – could suddenly become violent, doing themselves or others harm within days of starting the drug.

However rather than warn people about it, GlaxoSmithKline (the manufacturer of Paxil) and other pharmaceutical companies chose instead to hide the facts to prevent “scaring off” doctors and consumers and reducing their profits. Had consumers and especially physicians been aware of the possible side effects, patients could have been more closely monitored to ensure that they were not part of this small but extremely risky group.

Adolescents taking Paxil and other antidepressants seemed to be more profoundly affected by the side effects, but – at least according to the JAMA article – the drugs still had a positive benefit. However the researchers did qualify their findings in several ways, including the fact that most studies eliminated patients who had an identified suicide risk.

If you or your loved one has experienced severe side effects after taking Paxil, contact a Paxil attorney with Jim S. Adler & Associates for a free case assessment. We can help you understand your rights, and we may be able to secure a settlement to cover your medical bills, lost wages, and other financial losses, and get you compensation for you pain and suffering.

Paxil can be a dangerous drug. If you have felt its effects first-hand, contact a Paxil lawyer with Jim S. Adler & Associates to start your free case review.

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