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Britain Issues Warning To Teens Taking Drug Paxil

The Associated Press reported on June 10, 2003 that the British Department of Health has issued a warning that children and adolescents should not take the drug Paxil. Recent research indicates that children taking the drug run a higher risk of suicidal behavior and other emotional side-effects.

Paxil is called Seroxat outside the United States. Many doctors have been using the drug to treat depression in kids even though it is not licensed for use in children anywhere in the world.

Research showed that in 1000 children studied, emotional side-effects such as increased crying, mood swings, suicidal thoughts and self-harm were twice as high in the Paxil/Seroxat group as in the placebo group.

According to the Department of Health report, “It has become clear that the benefits of [Paxil/Seroxat] in children for the treatment of depressive illness do not outweigh these risks.”

An expert advisory panel has recently been set up to examine whether these side-effects occur in adults as well. It has been estimated that 17 million people worldwide have been treated with Paxil/Seroxat.

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