Paxil can trigger violence

Lawyer Pages

In June 2001, a Cheyenne, WY jury found that the Paxil manufacturer SmithKline Beecham (now GlaxoSmithKline) was 80% at fault for a quadruple murder/suicide involving a patient who had taken the drug for just two days. Despite years of evidence that these antidepressants can actually cause psychotic episodes, this was the first court proceeding in the United States to prove the connection in an actual case. Although this made it a landmark case in its own right, the facts that it revealed about the company’s own drug testing and results opened many eyes.

In this case, a sixty-year old man who had often suffered from depression, shot and killed his wife, daughter, and granddaughter before turning the gun on himself. He had taken Paxil for about 48 hours – just two pills. The plaintiffs argued that it was Paxil that triggered the violent and tragic outburst, affecting the patient adversely.

According to the lawyer who represented the plaintiff’s family, SmithKline Beecham tried to build its defense on three key points: that Paxil is an effective antidepressant for millions of people and couldn’t have negative side effects so quickly, that depression in itself can trigger violence, and that the patient may have displayed violent tendencies before taking the drug.

The plaintiff’s lawyer couldn’t argue that depression can trigger violence (which can make these cases so difficult and complex) but he did state that the man clearly loved his family and had no reason and no history to indicate that he would kill them. Further, previous depressive episodes did not result in violence. It was the introduction of Paxil, the lawyer argued, that triggered the violent response in this case.

And, as proof that this could happen, the lawyer used the company’s own research findings. In their confidential internal documents, the company revealed that in one study, hundreds of volunteers out of 2,000 subjects had severe side effects ranging from insomnia to suicide attempts.

But most revealing was the time factor. According to SmithKline Beecham’s own records, many of the subjects started to experience anxiety, nightmares, hallucinations, and other side effects within two days of Paxil treatment. Two volunteers out of this relatively small test group attempted suicide, one at 11 days and one at 18 days of treatment.

The plaintiff’s lawyer also got SmithKline Beecham’s expert witness to admit that he had stated in three articles that a small sub-section of patients could react adversely to the drug causing violent or suicidal tendencies.

The jury found in favor of the plaintiff for the amount of $6.4 million.

Cases like this occur all the time, and drug manufacturers do everything they can, including in some cases hiding evidence, to protect their own financial interests. If you or a loved one has experienced serious side effects due to Paxil or any other type of drug, contact Jim S. Adler & Associates for a free case review. We can help you find out exactly who is to blame, and what kind of settlement you can expect to help with your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Call Jim S. Adler & Associates right now, or fill out the form on this page with the details of your Paxil-related injury to start your free consultation.

DISCLAIMER: Although licensed in Texas to practice law, Jim S. Adler & Associates, 3D/International Tower, 1900 West Loop South, 20th Floor, Houston, Texas 77027, also works as needed with local and outside lawyers to litigate claims in other states, including these:

Jim S. Adler & Associates has attorneys in additional offices at City Place Building, 2711 North Haskell Ave., Suite 2100 LB40, Dallas, Texas 75204-2887; Bank of America, 12605 East Freeway, Suite 400, Houston, Texas 77015-5619 (serving Channelview, Texas); and San Pedro Plaza, 7330 San Pedro Ave., Suite 700, San Antonio, Texas 78216-6237.