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Antidepressants Linked to Increased Risk of Violence

–September 12, 2006

A class of antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may cause an increased risk of violence in some users, according to a new report released yesterday.

Common SSRIs include Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft, and Lexapro. This recent study focused specifically on Paxil (paroxetine), one of GlaxoSmithKline's top-selling drugs.

British researchers examined records of 9,219 patients who took Paxil. They found that compared with those who received a placebo, Paxil users were twice as likely to have what they termed a "hostility event" - or violent behavior.

"The new issues highlighted by these cases need urgent examination jointly by jurists and psychiatrists in all countries where antidepressants are widely used," the researchers wrote in their report.

"When violence is a suspected outcome, every case has to be considered carefully on the principle that individuals are responsible for their conduct, unless there is clear evidence of compromised function that cannot be otherwise explained," the report said.

The article is published online in the journal of Public Library of Science-Medicine.

SSRIs have come under scrutiny since being linked to a heightened risk of suicide among the adolescent population. In 2004, the Food and Drug Administration ordered that all SSRIs carry a stronger label, warning of the potential suicide risk.

The FDA has also urged doctors to closely monitor adults using SSRIs.

Injured by an antidepressant? Please contact us today for a free consultation with an experienced attorney near you.


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