Manufacturer admits increase in suicidal behaviour in patients taking paroxetine
BMJ 2006; 332 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.332.7551.1175 (Published 18 May 2006) Cite this as: BMJ 2006;332:1175
- Jeanne Lenzer
- New York
GlaxoSmithKline announced last week that they had found an increase in suicidal behaviour in adults taking paroxetine (Paxil/Seroxat) compared with placebo. The conclusion was based on an analysis of patients aged 18-64 years in clinical trials.
The researchers found that 0.32% (11/3455) of people taking paroxetine for depression attempted suicide compared with 0.05% (1/1978) of depressed patients taking placebo (odds ratio 6.7, 95% confidence interval 1.1 to 149.4; P=0.058). One person in the paroxetine group successfully killed themselves. GlaxoSmithKline said the data should be interpreted with caution and that the “overall risk-benefit of paroxetine in the treatment of adult patients with MDD [major depressive disease] remains positive.”
The Glaxo study confirms the suggested link …
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