|
|
,
Add to My Group(s)
Add to My Group(s)
By Evelyn Pringle (about the author)
Become a Fan -- Page 2 of 4 page(s)
The clause even extends the internet specifically in that plaintiffs and attorneys "will not maintain and instead will discontinue any website references to Paxil discontinuation or withdrawal. "
And, it says, they "agree to refrain from any future internet postings regarding Paxil discontinuation or withdrawal. "
Paragraph 5 of the lawsuit 's complaint says that over a 2 years period, "plaintiffs' attorneys have been individually contacted by approximately 500 Paxil withdrawal victims. "
And, the pain and suffering experienced by each individual is the direct result of Glaxo 's "failure to warn users of Paxil 's addictive nature, the drug's inducement of physical or psychologic dependency, and its infliction of dependency/withdrawal syndrome when the patient's Paxil dosage is reduced or terminated, " the complaint states.
Paragraph 16, lists withdrawal reactions that "can summed up as one or more of the following complaints: jolting electric "zaps," dizziness, light headedness, vertigo, incoordination, gait disturbances, sweating, extreme nausea, vomiting, high fever, abdominal discomfort, flu symptoms, anorexia, diarrhea, agitation, tremulousness, irritability, aggression, sleep disturbance, nightmares, tremor, confusion, memory and concentration difficulties, lethargy, malaise, weakness, fatigue, paraesthesias, ataxia, and/or myalgia. "
Paragraph 7, says: "These reactions are "unexpected" to the victims and even their physicians because the manufacturer has deliberately failed to properly warn of this. "
"Both physician and patient unwittingly use Paxil without knowing the drug's addictive traits, " the complaint says.
Paragraph 8, charges that because Glaxo has suppressed the information, patients and physicians are fooled into thinking that the reactions are caused by another condition, such as relapse into depression, thus prompting incorrect and unnecessary medical treatment, including increased dosages of Paxil.
While researchers have acknowledged the potential for withdrawal reactions with all SSRIs, Paxil is by far the worst. Citing data from the World Health Organization, the lawsuit 's complaint states: "Paxil has the highest incidence rate of withdrawal adverse experiences of any antidepressant drug in the world. "
Starting in December 2001, Glaxo finally added a minimizing precaution to Paxil 's label of some possible "discontinuation" side effects affecting "2 percent or greater" of patients based on studies.
However, documents reveal that Glaxo has always known about the withdrawal syndrome. For instance, in 1993, in a report that occurred 5 months after Paxil arrived on the market, Stoker and Eric noted Paxil withdrawal at the American Psychiatric Association's annual meeting in San Francisco, May 22-27, 1993.
The authors of the study conducted 2 week tapering off periods for 186 patients in 6 to 12 week doubled blinded comparative studies. Low dose and high dose groups were studied. Paxil's low dose group actually did worse than the high dose group, suffering 42% withdrawal rate, compared to 38% in the high dose group. And, both occurred even though the tapering off regime was initiated during dosage reduction.
The lawsuit 's complaint specifically describes close to 10 studies that reveal a high rate of withdrawal symptoms since Paxil came on the market that Glaxo was fully aware of.
A fact well-evidenced in internal company documents. A previously suppressed, May 1, 1997, Glaxo memo to, "Paxil Selling Team, " on the "discontinuation syndrome, " defines the withdrawal syndrome as, "a class effect that can occur when an SSRI is stopped abruptly. Symptoms may include asthenia, flu-like symptoms, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, and sleep disturbances (insomnia, vivid dreams or nightmares)."
However, the memo instructs Glaxo sales representatives to avoid using the term and says: "instead of 'withdrawal syndrome,' which implies addictive properties, try to refer to this phenomenon as 'discontinuation symptoms.'"
Eight months later, in a December 1, 1997, "Business Plan Guide," sales representatives were instructed to "minimize concerns surrounding discontinuation symptoms," and told to explain to doctors that the "discontinuation incident rate is two in 1,000 patients."
Become a Fan -- Page 2 of 4 page(s)
And, it says, they "agree to refrain from any future internet postings regarding Paxil discontinuation or withdrawal. "
Paragraph 5 of the lawsuit 's complaint says that over a 2 years period, "plaintiffs' attorneys have been individually contacted by approximately 500 Paxil withdrawal victims. "
And, the pain and suffering experienced by each individual is the direct result of Glaxo 's "failure to warn users of Paxil 's addictive nature, the drug's inducement of physical or psychologic dependency, and its infliction of dependency/withdrawal syndrome when the patient's Paxil dosage is reduced or terminated, " the complaint states.
Paragraph 16, lists withdrawal reactions that "can summed up as one or more of the following complaints: jolting electric "zaps," dizziness, light headedness, vertigo, incoordination, gait disturbances, sweating, extreme nausea, vomiting, high fever, abdominal discomfort, flu symptoms, anorexia, diarrhea, agitation, tremulousness, irritability, aggression, sleep disturbance, nightmares, tremor, confusion, memory and concentration difficulties, lethargy, malaise, weakness, fatigue, paraesthesias, ataxia, and/or myalgia. "
Paragraph 7, says: "These reactions are "unexpected" to the victims and even their physicians because the manufacturer has deliberately failed to properly warn of this. "
"Both physician and patient unwittingly use Paxil without knowing the drug's addictive traits, " the complaint says.
Paragraph 8, charges that because Glaxo has suppressed the information, patients and physicians are fooled into thinking that the reactions are caused by another condition, such as relapse into depression, thus prompting incorrect and unnecessary medical treatment, including increased dosages of Paxil.
While researchers have acknowledged the potential for withdrawal reactions with all SSRIs, Paxil is by far the worst. Citing data from the World Health Organization, the lawsuit 's complaint states: "Paxil has the highest incidence rate of withdrawal adverse experiences of any antidepressant drug in the world. "
Starting in December 2001, Glaxo finally added a minimizing precaution to Paxil 's label of some possible "discontinuation" side effects affecting "2 percent or greater" of patients based on studies.
However, documents reveal that Glaxo has always known about the withdrawal syndrome. For instance, in 1993, in a report that occurred 5 months after Paxil arrived on the market, Stoker and Eric noted Paxil withdrawal at the American Psychiatric Association's annual meeting in San Francisco, May 22-27, 1993.
The authors of the study conducted 2 week tapering off periods for 186 patients in 6 to 12 week doubled blinded comparative studies. Low dose and high dose groups were studied. Paxil's low dose group actually did worse than the high dose group, suffering 42% withdrawal rate, compared to 38% in the high dose group. And, both occurred even though the tapering off regime was initiated during dosage reduction.
The lawsuit 's complaint specifically describes close to 10 studies that reveal a high rate of withdrawal symptoms since Paxil came on the market that Glaxo was fully aware of.
A fact well-evidenced in internal company documents. A previously suppressed, May 1, 1997, Glaxo memo to, "Paxil Selling Team, " on the "discontinuation syndrome, " defines the withdrawal syndrome as, "a class effect that can occur when an SSRI is stopped abruptly. Symptoms may include asthenia, flu-like symptoms, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, and sleep disturbances (insomnia, vivid dreams or nightmares)."
However, the memo instructs Glaxo sales representatives to avoid using the term and says: "instead of 'withdrawal syndrome,' which implies addictive properties, try to refer to this phenomenon as 'discontinuation symptoms.'"
Eight months later, in a December 1, 1997, "Business Plan Guide," sales representatives were instructed to "minimize concerns surrounding discontinuation symptoms," and told to explain to doctors that the "discontinuation incident rate is two in 1,000 patients."
Evelyn Pringle is a columnist for OpEd News and investigative journalist focused on exposing corruption in government and corporate America.
The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author
and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
 Contact Author |
Contact Editor |
 View Authors' Articles |
Comments
The time limit for entering new comments on this article has expired.
This limit can be removed. Our paid membership program is designed to give you many benefits, such as removing this time limit. To learn more, please click here.
| 4 comments |
To view all comments:
(Or you can set your preferences to show all comments, always)
No Subject Entered
by RH on Thursday, Apr 27, 2006 at 10:12:38 AM
just ayour comment
by dlem39 on Thursday, Sep 28, 2006 at 5:17:11 PM
Paxil
by Lynn Beckman on Thursday, Apr 27, 2006 at 11:31:49 PM
More info on Paxil here
by Robert Fiddaman Dip.Couns MOC & MSFTR on Friday, Jan 5, 2007 at 4:13:16 AM