Prozac & Risk of Suicide
During a clinical trial in 1984, German authorities became concerned when there were 16 attempted suicides by Prozac patients, 2 of which who were tragically successful. Over the next two decades, Eli Lilly pushed their antidepressant drug to a global market with the knowledge of potential life-threatening side effects such as depression and excessive violence. Now, with nearly 40 million people taking the drug worldwide, Prozac’s fatal side effects can no longer be ignored.
Prozac was first introduced as a treatment for depression, but is now more commonly prescribed for obsessive-compulsive disorders and panic attacks. Prozac has long been associated with side effects such as insomnia, restlessness, nausea and tension headaches. However, there are far more serious side effects that are now being linked with the popular antidepressant.
To date, nearly 45,000 reports have been filed to the FDA, including 2500 concerning wrongful death by suicide or violence caused by Prozac. The controversy surrounding this drug has to do with documented proof showing that Eli Lilly allegedly knew that patients using Prozac had an increased risk of suicidal tendencies, yet they did nothing about it.
“According to a study from 1988, nearly 4 percent of patients taking Prozac tried to commit suicide - more than 12 times the rate of patients taking other popular antidepressants. The study also showed that over 2 percent of Prozac users suffered psychotic depression, more than twice the rate of patients on other antidepressants. Prozac users also had elevated incidents of hostility and intentional injury, and experienced other side effects such as nervousness, insomnia, anxiety, panic attacks, aggressiveness and agitation”.
Due to increased awareness of Prozac’s side effects, the FDA recently issued a request for the following points to be included on Prozac’s warning label:
- Antidepressants increase the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in children and adolescents with MDD and other psychiatric disorders.
- Anyone considering the use of an antidepressant in a child or adolescent for any clinical use must balance the risk of suicide with the clinical need.
- Patients who are started on therapy should be observed closely for clinical worsening, suicidal thoughts, or unusual changes in behavior.
- Families and caregivers should be advised to closely observe the patient and to communicate with the prescriber.
- A statement regarding whether the particular drug is approved for any pediatric indication(s) and, if so, which one(s).
If you or a loved one have experienced any side serious effects from Prozac, please call us at 1.800.966.4999 or fill out our online contact form for a free case evaluation.
