| New warnings have surfaced about the risk of suicide from selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant drugs, which include Paxil, Prozac and Zoloft.
Drug regulators have reported that Paxil, which is closely related to the other SSRIs, may increase the risk of suicide among teenagers and children, especially during the first few weeks of treatment. Regulators have recommended that no new Paxil prescriptions be written for patients under the age of 18 years. Some say the suicide risk may extend to adults as well.
Recent studies have focused on the antidepressants’ effectiveness, as studies have found that the drugs are no more effective than a placebo, rather than their safety. SSRIs bring in billions of dollars in sales each year.
New York Times August 7, 2003
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