Antidepressants Nearly Kills Teen and Causes Liver Failure in 18 Others When Alissa Robinson looked at a portrait of herself,

taken when she was 15years-old, her only comment was, That was in my pretty days. She was referring to life prior to taking Serzone, the drug that allegedly led to the liver transplant that changed her life forever. Serzone, an antidepressant drug, was prescribed to Alissa in February 1997 by a hospital psychiatrist. Although the drug had FDA approval, the Robinsons were unaware that Serzone was not intended for use by children or adolescents. The FDA suspected Serzone use wouldnt be limited to adults; therefore, prior to approving Serzone, they instructed its Manufacturers, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, to conduct further studies to support the safety and efficacy among children and adolescents. Results of those studies remain unseen six years later. Today, doctors continue to prescribe Serzone for any purpose they find appropriate. 18 cases of liver failure have been reported to the FDA, involving Serzone patients. One of those patients was Alissa. In June 1997, Alissa was admitted to a Cincinnati hospital, suffering from liver failure. She was placed on a waiting list for a transplant. Within two days, she was in a coma and would have died, had an organ not been available within the next two days. Litigation is pending against Bristol-Myers in state court, alleging Serzone is a defective product and unreasonably dangerous. A spokesperson for Bristol-Myers stated the safety and efficacy reports, requested by the FDA, should be available by 2002. The label on Serzone now states, rare reports of liver failure; in some cases, leading to liver transplantation and or death. SOURCE: Penalties for surgical errors to sharpen, St. Petersburg Times, April 3, 2001, pp. 1B-4B. Houston Antidepressants News, Houston Antidepressant News
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