Paxil

Released in 1992 by the British GlaxoSmithKline pharmaceutical, Paxil is one of the most prescribed antidepressants on the market, which the generic name is Paroxetine, made up of paroxetine hydrochloride, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant, best known for its efficacy in treating depression.

However, it is estimated that 20% of patients treated with Paxil worldwide in clinical trials, have suffered major depressive disorders and side effects, including other anxiety and panic disorders. Even when the pharmaceutical company has encouraged discontinuing the treatment immediately due to adverse events, there are still a considerable number of Paxil's victims.

While it is claimed that Paxil alleviates a wide spectrum of anxiety disorders, side effect can increase anxiety, phobias and panic attacks. Disorders affecting the Central Nervous System include somnolence, insomnia, agitation, tremor, anxiety, and dizziness. Although the use of Paxil can also cause gastrointestinal problems such as constipation, nausea, diarrhea, dry mouth, vomiting, and flatulence.

Once the first class action lawsuits began to be filed, other problems exposed by Paxil's victims were discovered. Paxil may cause asthenia, abnormal ejaculation, sweating, libido decreased and impotence. Even when continued therapy is recommended for adaptation to some of those adverse events, lawyers suggest that the best option is to file a claim for damages caused by the drug.

The first class action lawsuit of its kind against GlaxoSmithKline was filed in Los Angeles, in August 2001, although awareness about the side effects of this drug has increased since October 2000, after Paxil addiction reports were disclosed in the United Kingdom. By then, US lawyers found more than 2,000 calls from people declaring their addiction to Paxil.

In severe cases, Paxil may cause withdrawal symptoms, including violent behaviors, and increased risk of suicide. Due to this fact, after a withdrawal lawsuit on December 14, 2001, GlaxoSmithKline updated Paxil's labels with the specific indication withdrawal reaction dangers associated to the drug.

Paxil was never approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the safety of the medications has been always questioned by both patients and health care practitioners. Even when several studies have demonstrated that Paxil is ineffective in treating children, the prescription of this medication has increased their risk of suicidal tendencies.

Several lawsuits filed by adults are on behalf of children and adolescents suffering from withdrawal problems, including a number of cases that ended in suicide. Even when there is safety information at the Paxil's website, the pharmaceutical industry encourages "don't stop taking Paxil CR and Paxil before talking to your doctor since side effects may result from stopping the medicine."

However people who continue the intake of Paxil can also suffer side effects such as chills, allergic reactions, acne and face edema, neck pain, moniliasis and other infections, as well as cardiovascular problems such as bradycardia, ventricular extra systoles, and blood conduction abnormalities, not to mention behavioral changes and dependency to the drug with dizziness, vertigo, and extreme nausea.

In addition, Paxil can be present in breast milk, increasing the risk of injuries to infants.