Use of Antidepressants May Be Responsible for Some Suicides

The World Health Organization (WHO) dedicates itself to the prevention of suicide as it becomes a problem worldwide.It declares that mental disorders, particularly depression, are the reason for suicide in Europe and North America. The fight against depression and suicide has both been cultural and social, and not merely dependent on the help that antidepressants can deliver. It needs community involvement and awareness. Every year, the WHO notes that almost one million people die from suicide and a death occurs every 40 seconds. It is the tenth leading cause of death especially among teenagers in the United States. This is attributed to depression as well and substance abuse which is relatively common among depressed men and women. Stress alone cannot cause suicide.Scientifically, research shows that they are influenced by neurotransmitters such as serotonin at a decreasing level. At this juncture, antidepressants are mainly involved. Antidepressants, particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serve to control and reinforce the serotonin levels of a person and boost happy thoughts. Serotonin is a brain chemical which regulates the "happy" emotions. Because of this, an antidepressant branded as Paxil was manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline. However, studies showed that among children and adolescent users, Paxil causes suicidal thoughts and behavior.Because of this finding, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) placed a warning label for Paxil indicating the same. Unfortunately the FDA warning only accomplished little to prevent suicides. Paxil user Susan Antoinette Silva took her own life on April 13, 2006. Reports say that Dr. Isabel Lopez-Colberg, her doctor, prescribed her with a year's worth of Paxil prescriptions and failed to monitor her progress in Paxil. Her family observed that prior to the incident, she displayed irrational impulses and drastic behavioral shifts. Court documents supported her complaints that Paxil made her uncomfortable and ill. A lawsuit was initiated against GSK and Dr. Colberg for medical malpractice because of this tragic happenstance. The court entered a verdict late last year awarding Susan Silva's estate $3.02 million, $100,000 to each of her parents and $20,000 to each of her siblings. As were reflected in various studies, Paxil has been linked to many other side effects. This has prompted several lawsuits against GSK and caused them to set aside almost $1 billion corporate budget for these litigation proceedings. The side effects of Paxil are matters that are not to be lightly taken. Paxil intake or use should be both monitored and supervised not only to prevent substance abuse but to ultimately save a life.