Child Suicide Attorney Applauds Antidepressant Black Box Warning Mandate
FDA ordered manufacturers of more than thirty antidepressants to include a black box warning on their labels explaining the drugs increase the risk of suicide in children and adolescents.
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) October 17, 2004 -- Today, the FDA ordered
manufacturers of more than thirty antidepressants to include a black box warning
on their labels explaining the drugs increase the risk of suicide in children
and adolescents.
http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/antidepressants/SSRIPHA200410.htm.
Karen Barth Menzies, who represents dozens of children or their families
related to antidepressant-induced suicides or suicide attempts and who testified
at both Psychopharmacologic Drugs and Pediatric Advisory Committee hearings in
Feb. and Sept. 2004 about the risk of suicide in children and adolescents,
stated, “The black box warning is a huge milestone that would not have been
achieved absent the collective and ceaseless efforts of courageous victims,
scientists with the integrity to speak out (despite pressure from the
pharmaceutical companies), the media, congressional representatives, and the
advocates doing all possible to increase the awareness of this suicide and
violence risk. This combined effort has finally forced the FDA to do what it
should have done 13 years ago.
“FDA’s action should
not end here, however. It still has yet to appropriately address the risk of
these drugs causing hostility and violence, and that the suicide and violence
risk exists for adults, as well. The FDA also significantly failed to adopt the
Advisory Committee’s recommendation that the black box clearly notify physicians
that these drugs have failed to demonstrate effectiveness.”
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/10/prweb168594.htm