California Prozac® Lawyers

Fluoxetine hydrochloride (trade names Prozac, Fontex, Ladose, Sarafem, Solax) is an antidepressant. Eli Lilly's Prozac is approved for the treatment of major depression (including pediatric depression), obsessive-compulsive disorder, bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa, panic disorder and premenstrual dysphoric disorder.

Prozac carries a black box warning: "Suicidality and Antidepressant Drugs - Antidepressants increased the risk compared to placebo of suicidal thinking and behavior (suicidality) in children, adolescents, and young adults in short-term studies of major depressive disorder (MDD) and other psychiatric disorders." Minor side effects include "Nausea, drowsiness, dizziness, anxiety, trouble sleeping, loss of appetite, weakness, tiredness, sweating, or yawning."

Sudden discontinuation of serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRI) can lead to a number of psychological (e.g., nervousness, anxiety, crying spells, psychomotor agitation, irritability, depersonalization, decreased mood, memory disturbances, confusion, decreased concentration, and/or slowed thinking) and somatic (e.g., nausea, dizziness, headache) symptoms. Prozac has also been linked to violent behavior.

Prozac® References

• Human Psychopharmacology Clinical and Experimental 16 (7): 495–505. Hansen L (2001). "A critical review of akathisia, and its possible association with suicidal behaviour".
• Clin Neurol Neurosurg 110 (1): 69–70. doi:10.1016/j.clineuro.2007.08.016."Delirium following abrupt discontinuation of fluoxetine".
• Overview for December 13 Meeting of Psychopharmacologic Drugs Advisory Committee (PDAC )Stone MB, Jones ML (2006-11-17). "Clinical Review: Relationship Between Antidepressant Drugs and Suicidality in Adults" (PDF). 11-74.
• Arch Gen Psychiatry 2006;63:332-339. Hammad T, Laughren T, Racoosin JA Suicidality in pediatric patients treated with antidepressant drugs.
• PLoS Med 3(9): e372 doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.0030372, 2006 Antidepressants and Violence: Problems at the Interface of Medicine and Law, David Healy, Andrew Herxheimer, and David B. Menkes

FDA Public Health Advisory: Suicidality With Antidepressant Medications [issued 10/2004]
the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) directed manufacturers of all antidepressant drugs to revise the labeling for their products to include a boxed warning and expanded warning statements that alert health care providers to an increased risk of suicidality (suicidal thinking and behavior) in children and adolescents being treated with these agents, and to [...] More about this FDA Alert

Warning Letter Center for Drug Evaluation and Research
More about this FDA AlertWarning Letters are only issued for violations of regulatory significance (violations that can lead to enforcement action) and serve as the principal means of giving industry prior notice of violations requiring prompt voluntary correction. Failure to take corrective action and prevent future repetition of the violation may result in an administrative and/or enforcement action without further notice

Press Release-May 2, 2007--FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE- FDA Proposes New Warnings About Suicidal Thinking, Behavior in Young Adults Who Take Antidepressant Medications-The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today proposed that makers of all antidepressant medications update the existing black box warning on their products’ labeling to include warnings about increased risks of suicidal thinking and behavior, known as suicidality, in young adults ages 18 to 24 during initial treatment (generally the first one to two months).

If you have experienced thoughts of suicide; or suffered the loss from suicide of a family member who was taking Prozac or in withdrawal from Prozac® or were otherwise injured by taking Prozac®, you are entitled to compensation. If you or a family member have taken Prozac® and developed problems, you should seek a free consultation regarding your legal rights. Our Prozac ® lawyers have the experience and resources necessary to obtain compensation from pharmaceutical companies.

Lawsuits have been filed over Prozac ®. There are indications that Eli Lilly has downplayed the known risks of Prozac usage. If you have experienced complications, you can act now. We can help you get the compensation you deserve.

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