Paxil's Maker Concedes Drug is Ineffective on Children
The antidepressant Paxil has proven no more effective in clinical testing on children than a non-medicinal placebo, according to the Associated Press, which cites the drug's manufacturer, GlaxoSmithKline PLC.
Glaxo is being sued by the State of New York, whose attorney general accuses the company of concealing details of how well the drug works on children, and possible side effects on youngsters including suicidal tendencies, the AP reported.
On its Web site, the company has published a comprehensive list of studies it has conducted on children. Glaxo said it did notice a marginal increase in suicidal behavior as compared to children who took a placebo, though none of the young participants in the trials actually committed suicide, the wire service reported.
The Eli Lilly and Company drug Prozac is the only antidepressant approved for pediatric use, although there is nothing to prevent doctors from prescribing other antidepressants that have been sanctioned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in adults.
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