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In May 2003, the company submitted a new report. It showed that children given Paxil were more likely to become suicidal than those given placebos. In June, the agency announced that doctors should avoid using Paxil in depressed children.
That is scary. So this should put aside concern that it is not just the fact that children who are depressed and given antidepressants are naturally suicidal and that accounts for the reports of suicidal behavior. If GSK's own report showed that children given Paxil were more suicidal than those given placebo, then I can't imagine the suicidal behavior is related to anything other than the drug itself.
I think it definitely warrants further study, but the meds should not be kept off the market for children completely. Maybe a black box warning could be added, I doubt there is enough evidence available for that, though. Dr. Temple does make a good point, "This is a very serious matter. If you get it wrong and over-discourage the use of these medicines, people could die." I don't think its possible to say no child should be prescribed these meds, there are plenty that do get a good effect from them.
The only thing I am sure of is that Dr. Moshelder is going to capitalize on this and write a book about corruption between the FDA and pharmaceutical companies as it relates to suicidal children- an alarming topic about children addressed by an expert close to the source, I bet it would become a bestseller.
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Re: Anti-Depressant & Children:Controversy Re-kindled
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