Antidepressant Intake May Have Caused High Suicide Rates - By: Josephine Osborn

The World Health Organization (WHO) dedicates itself to the prevention of suicide as it becomes a problem worldwide.It declares that mental disorders, particularly depression, are the reason for suicide in Europe and North America. Depression and suicide have both cultural and social dimensions, and the relief that antidepressants bring is not enough. It needs community involvement and awareness.

The WHO notes that almost one million people die from suicide every year and that for every 40 seconds, a death occurs. It is the tenth leading cause of death especially among teenagers in the United States. This is attributed to depression as well and substance abuse which is relatively common among depressed men and women. Stress alone cannot cause suicide. According to scientific research, human actions are influenced by neurotransmitters such as serotonin. This is where antidepressants come in.

Serotonin which boosts a person's happy thoughts is controlled and reinforced by antidepressants, particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that regulates one's "happy" emotions.GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) manufactured an antidepressant named Paxil was made for this purpose. However, studies showed that Paxil may cause suicidal thoughts and suicidal behavior among children users and adolescents as well. Because of this finding, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) placed a warning label for Paxil indicating the same. Unfortunately the FDA warning only accomplished little to prevent suicides.

Paxil user Susan Antoinette Silva took her own life on April 13, 2006. Reports say that Dr. Isabel Lopez-Colberg, her doctor, prescribed her with a year's worth of Paxil prescriptions and failed to monitor her progress in Paxil. Her family noticed a strange behavior on her prior to the incident coupled with irrational impulses and drastic behavioral shifts. She also complained that Paxil made her feel uncomfortable and court documents supported that Paxil indeed made her ill. Due to this unfortunate happenstance, a lawsuit was filed against GSK and Dr. Colberg for medical malpractice. Late last year, the court rendered a verdict awarding Susan Silva's estate $3.02 million, $100,000 to each of her parents and $20,000 to each of her siblings.

Paxil has been linked to many other side effects, as were shown in various studies. This has prompted several lawsuits against GSK and caused them to set aside almost $1 billion corporate budget for these litigation proceedings. The side effects of Paxil are grave enough to be a cause for concern. Paxil use or that of other antidepressants should be supervised and monitored, not only to prevent substance abuse but to prevent another loss of life.

About the Author

GlaxoSmithKline manufactured paroxetine drug Paxil is an antidepressant. Antidepressants support people with depression. However, the side effects of Paxil have moved it to the center of media controversy for allegedly causing birth defects, suicidal behavior and other serious illnesses. Learn more about the side effects of Paxil.

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