Babies given mind altering drugs in Florida / 68 Paxil Withdrawal Victims File Lawsuit

Babies given mind altering drugs in Florida / 68 Paxil Withdrawal Victims File Lawsuit

September 24, 2003

The serious problems that children in foster care have, are compounded by the scourge of psychotropic drugs which they are forced to take.

The Miami Herald reports that the Florida Statewide Advocacy Council (an arm of the Department of Children and Families) conducted a two-year investigation of 1,180 foster children, following the revelations of abuse made by the Herald in 2001. The Council's report (issued earlier this month) found that more than 50% of the children --including 17 preschoolers-- were on mind altering drugs that had not been approved by the FDA as safe for children. 44% of the children had not been seen by a doctor. The report notes that 59 children had no diagnosis, while another 143 children had the diagnosis described as:"other.''

It is clear that psychotropic drugs are being used as chemical restraints-- a form of child abuse. Indeed, Richard Wexler, head of the Virginia-based National Coalition for Child Protection Reform called this practice ''child abuse on a grand scale. It's obvious that [Department of Children & Families] DCF still hasn't learned to just say no to drugs.''

Of note: In the wake of several investigative reports in the British media that revealed the hazards posed by SSRI antidepressant drugs, public outrage led GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to issue warnings to healthcare professionals and to revise the package label of the antidepressant, Seroxat (Paxil) in the UK. The company deleted the claim, Seroxat "is non-habit forming," and acknowledged a two to three fold increased suicide risk for children taking the drug. However, GSK has not similarly revised the US label for Paxil, nor issued a "Dear Healthcare Professional" letter to US physicians.

Of further note: Wyeth pharmaceuticals issued "Dear Doctor" letters to US physicians warning about the same serious risks for children taking their antidepressant, Effexor.

The British government began to take action to contain the over-prescribing of mind-altering drugs for children. The British Committee on Safety in Medicines (equivalent to US FDA) has issued several public warnings about severe, drug- induced adverse effects--including withdrawal symptoms and suicidal acts. See, most recent September 2003 UK document at: http://www.ahrp.org/risks/MHRAssri0903.php

On September 22, 2003 a mass rejoinder lawsuit was filed on behalf of 68 Washington State residents who claimed they have suffered severe withdrawal reactions when trying to stop taking the antidepressant, Paxil (Seroxat) in U.S. District Court in Seattle, Washington (Case No. CV 03-2886-L)against SmithKline Beecham d/b/a GlaxoSmithkline ("GSK").

Karen A. Barth, a partner in the national law firm of Baum, Hedlund, Aristei, Guilford & Schiavo, is spearheading the Paxil withdrawal cases in the United States, since 2001 when the firm filed its first class action suit against GSK. The current complaint charges filed in federal court include intentional misrepresentation, fraud, negligence, strict liability, and express and implied warranty claims. See: http://www.baumhedlundlaw.com/Paxil/paxilupdate.htm