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Paxil Users Claim Maker Hid Drug's
Addictive Nature
A class action has been filed
against GlaxoSmithKline Plc, the British pharmaceutical giant that
makes the antidepressant Paxil (paroxetine), on behalf of all people
in the United States who were prescribed Paxil and who later
suffered withdrawal reactions when they attempted to stop taking the
drug.The action claims that GlaxoSmithKline knew that some patients
prescribed Paxil would suffer severe withdrawal reactions but failed
to warn patients or physicians of this danger. The action asserts
claims for fraud and deceit, negligence, strict liability, and
breach of warranty. Both compensatory and punitive damages are
sought.
Withdrawal reactions suffered by patients attempting to
discontinue Paxil include jolting electric "zaps," dizziness,
light-headedness, vertigo, lack of coordination, 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 myalgia.
Paxil, which was introduced into the U.S. market on December 29,
1992, is a well known antidepressant medication in the same class as
Zoloft and Prozac (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or
SSRIs). Paxil is approved for marketing in the U.S. for conditions
such as depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder,
and social anxiety disorder.
According to the plaintiffs, GlaxoSmithKline has known for years
that the distinct characteristics of Paxil make it prone to cause
withdrawal reactions when discontinued. According to World Health
Organization data obtained by the class members, Paxil has the
highest rate of adverse experiences during withdrawal of any
antidepressant drug in the world.
Related Cases 
Prozac,
Zoloft, and Paxil Antidepressant Users v Eli Lilly, Pfizer, and
GlaxoSmithKline
Some 200 legal actions have been filed
against Eli Lilly, Pfizer, and GlaxoSmithKline, the manufacturers of
Prozac (fluoxetine), Zoloft (sertraline), and Paxil (paroxetine),
respectively, to recover for suicides or homicides--some completed,
some only attempted--by patients in the first few days or weeks
after they were prescribed one of these drugs.
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