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When Did Makers Of Paxil Know About Risk Of Suicide In Kids?

Makers Of Paxil Know About Suicide Risks Drug Toxic Chemicals

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When Did Makers Of Paxil Know About Risk Of Suicide In Kids?

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), the maker of the popular antidepressant drug Paxil, may have known for years about the risks of suicide in adolescents now being linked to the drug. That’s what Iowa Senator Charles Grassley is claiming and he’s asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to investigate what GSK knew and when they knew it.
The investigation
Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA), along with other senators, has asked the FDA to investigate whether GSK knew about the risks of suicide in adolescent patients who have been prescribed the antidepressant drug, Paxil. Grassley asked the FDA to investigate following a report from a British regulatory agency that suggests GSK knew about these risks since 1998, but withheld the information from the FDA and consumers.
What is Paxil?
Paxil, or paroxetine hydrochloride, is an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) prescribed for the treatment of depression, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, post traumatic stress disorder and social anxiety disorder. Manufactured by GSK, Paxil received FDA approval in 1992 and it is estimated that nearly 100 million prescriptions are filled each year. Although Paxil was not approved for use by anyone under the age of 18, experts say that many doctors have prescribed the drug to adolescents for a variety of off-label uses. According to the drug’s website, www.paxilcr.com:
Paxil CR is approved only for adults 18 years and over. In some children and teen, antidepressants increase suicidal thoughts or actions. Young adults, especially those with depression, may be at increased risk of suicidal actions.
The FDA required that GSK add the above warning in 2004; however, many believe that the company knew of the increased risks of suicide for years beforehand, but failed to provide that information to the FDA and consumers. If you believe your child was harmed by Paxil, contact an attorney whose practice focuses in this area of the law to discuss your situation. Consultations are free, without obligation and are strictly confidential. To contact an experienced attorney, please click here. We may be able to help.

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Judge Rules GlaxoSmithKline Cannot Claim Preemption in Paxil Case

Judge Rules Against Paxil Preemption Drug Toxic Chemicals

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Judge Rules GlaxoSmithKline Cannot Claim Preemption in Paxil Case

Eli Lilly, the manufacturer of the antipsychotic drug Zyprexa, has said that it simply doesn’t agree with the allegations of several states’ attorney generals that it has illegally marketed the drug, concealed its harmful side effects, and encouraged doctors to prescribe it for unapproved uses. However, recent testimony against the company by an FDA official and nine pending state lawsuits don’t hold out much promise for the manufacturer.
What is Zyprexa?
Introduced in 1996, Zyprexa (olanzapine) is prescribed to treat schizophrenia, acute mixed or manic episodes of bipolar disorder and maintaining the treatment of bipolar disorder. According to news reports, Eli Lilly has concealed the harmful health risks associated with Zyprexa – including an increased risk for diabetes. The company allegedly told its sales representatives to ‘play down’ the side effects as sales of the drug were high – over $4 billion last year. It is estimated that 20 million people have taken the drug worldwide.
Nine states suing manufacturer?
Nine states have sued Eli Lilly over these practices – Connecticut being the latest. Connecticut’s long time Attorney General, Richard Blumenthal, has alleged:
Eli Lilly allegedly corrupted physicians, pharmacies and administrators at nursing homes and youth detention centers as part of a massive illegal marketing campaign to promote Zyprexa for unapproved off-label uses, including for the treatment of children.
Eli Lilly has denied the charges and is urging patients to continue using the drug. However, the company has already agreed to pay $1.2 billion to settle nearly 30,000 lawsuits for people who alleged to have developed diabetes or other diseases related to the drug. Thousands of lawsuits are still pending.
FDA Official Testifies Against Eli Lilly
An official from the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) testified against Eli Lilly in an Alaska case, the first of the nine to go to trial. According to news reports, the official told the jury that Eli Lilly wasn’t sufficiently concerned about patient welfare. He was quoted as saying, “Simply put, it’s putting profit over the concern of the consumer.”
If you’ve been injured by Zyprexa, contact an attorney whose practice focuses in this area of law to discuss your situation. Consultations are free, without obligation and strictly confidential. To contact a qualified attorney, please click here.

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My wife had Paxil prescribed for her but decided to quit taking it without talking to her doctor. She suffered terrible withdrawal symptoms, including intense dizziness and vertigo which caused her to fall down a flight of stairs and seriously injure herself. How can we prove that the drug caused her dizzy spells? Will our damages be reduced because she decided on her own to stop taking the drug?

Paxil Withdrawl Symptoms Drug Toxic Chemicals

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My wife had Paxil prescribed for her but decided to quit taking it without talking to her doctor. She suffered terrible withdrawal symptoms, including intense dizziness and vertigo which caused her to fall down a flight of stairs and seriously injure herself. How can we prove that the drug caused her dizzy spells? Will our damages be reduced because she decided on her own to stop taking the drug?

Paxil has been found to cause severe withdrawal symptoms in a number of people. These symptoms can include dizziness and vertigo which, if left untreated, can lead to the type of spells that caused your wife’s accident. GlaxoSmithKline, the manufacturer of Paxil, was apparently aware of these symptoms but did not specifically warn doctors about them until Paxil had been on the market for nine years. Therefore, you may have a case against the manufacturer of Paxil, depending on when your wife began taking the Paxil.

You may also have a case against your wife’s doctor. If she began taking Paxil after the increased warnings were put into effect, GlaxoSmithKline may argue that it was up to your wife’s doctor to tell her about the severe withdrawal symptoms. If your wife’s doctor did not talk about these symptoms, your wife may be able to successfully sue him or her for malpractice.

Your wife’s doctor may argue that she brought the severe withdrawal symptoms on herself by discontinuing the drug without talking it over with the doctor first or without coming up with an actual withdrawal plan. The severity of the symptoms may have been controlled if your wife’s doctor had been involved, and your wife’s doctor may also have been able to monitor her withdrawal to help her compensate for or overcome any symptoms. Therefore, the fact that she stopped taking the drug without talking to her doctor first may reduce her damage award. How much depends on where your case is located. Your attorney will be able to work with you to develop a strategy to deal with this.

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My child’s doctor prescribed Paxil for her to treat her depression. She attempted suicide and, while she survived, she suffered significant brain damage. We believe her use of Paxil led to her suicide attempt. How do we prove this?

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My child’s doctor prescribed Paxil for her to treat her depression. She attempted suicide and, while she survived, she suffered significant brain damage. We believe her use of Paxil led to her suicide attempt. How do we prove this?

If your daughter was depressed, she may have had suicidal tendencies. However, the fact that she was taking Paxil, which was never approved for use in children and which has been linked to increased suicidal tendencies in children, definitely strengthens your case against the manufacturer of the drug as well as against your daughter’s doctor.

You should certainly consult with an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible to discuss your daughter’s case. You should be able to bring an action against GlaxoSmithKline, the manufacturer of Paxil. The FDA never approved the use of Paxil for treating pediatric depression and, in fact, issued a letter pointing out that not only had Paxil being used by children been linked to increased suicidal tendencies but that there was no evidence to show that Paxil actually helps children with depression and other related mental illnesses. Therefore, your case against GlaxoSmithKline is relatively strong.

You may also have a case against your daughter’s doctor. The doctor should have known that Paxil had not been approved for use in children. Furthermore, the FDA issued a letter charging that Paxil had not been proven effective for use with children and that its use might lead to increased suicidal tendencies. Your daughter’s doctor should have known about that letter and should have acted accordingly to make sure that your daughter was safe. Your attorney can help you decide how best to proceed.

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What types of damages are available in a case involving an injury caused by Paxil?

Paxil Injury Damages Drug Toxic Chemicals

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What types of damages are available in a case involving an injury caused by Paxil?

There are two types of cases that can arise as a result of using Paxil – either a personal injury case, brought by someone who was injured by the drug (for example, through a birth defect, failed suicide attempt, or an inability to stop using the drug), or a wrongful death suit, brought by the family of someone who either committed suicide or was the victim of a homicide that is linked to the use of Paxil. The damages available in these types of cases are similar to the types of damages available in any personal injury or wrongful death case.

The concept behind damages in a lawsuit, whether decided by a jury or by settlement, is to try to put the victim in the same position he or she would have been without the injury or death. Therefore, damages that reimburse the victim or his or her family for medical expenses, burial expenses, loss of work, or any other out-of-pocket type expenses are awarded. As a practical matter, this means collecting and documenting your lost income, your medical expenses (i.e., ER care, hospital, doctor, laboratory, diagnostic tests, therapy, etc.), travel expenses, and burial expenses.

There are other types of damages available as well, although they are not as easy to put an actual number on because of their nature. Damages for things such as pain and suffering, loss of economic opportunity, loss of benefits, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of companionship (in a suit brought by a spouse) are some of the damages that your attorney will include in any settlement discussions or argument to the jury. While it is difficult to put an objective measurement, such as a dollar figure, on a subjective complaint, such as pain and suffering or loss of enjoyment of life, the courts, attorneys, and insurance adjusters all have a great deal of experience in working with these concepts. (See also our section on pain and suffering.) Depending on where your case is brought, there will probably be other similar cases that your attorney and the other side will rely on as a starting point for these damages.

A third type of damages that may be available is punitive damages, which would be used in these cases to punish GlaxoSmithKline for continuing to promote Paxil for use by children and adolescents, for not acknowledging the severe withdrawal symptoms, and for not sufficiently warning about the increased suicidal and homicidal tendencies caused by the drug. The question here will be whether GlaxoSmithKline acted so negligently that it should be punished for improper warnings and promotions. However, punitive damages are not allowed in every state and it can be very difficult to prove that your case deserves punitive damages. Talk with your attorney to see if requesting punitive damages might be appropriate in your case.

You may read about settlements and jury verdicts in other cases involving Paxil. While these can be informative, remember that different people receive different settlement offers and jury verdicts based on many things: where the case is brought, what the particular facts of a case are, who the insurance adjusters are, your character and credibility; extent of the injury, objective evidence, and, to some extent, who the attorneys are. Therefore, you should not necessarily think that your case will receive the same type of settlement award as another case. Depending on your case, your settlement offer may be higher or lower. You will have to work with your attorney to decide whether a particular offer is suitable or not.

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EBay Buying: What You Need To Know

Ebay Buying What You Need To Know Intellectual Property Intellectual Property

EBay Buying: What You Need To Know

Let’s face it – EBay has revolutionized online shopping with its innovative, easy-to-use Internet auctions. You can take place in this World Wide Web-based shopping experience by bidding on everything from lawnmowers to lava rocks. There’s a whole world of niche shopping to be had on EBay – but the site has its pitfalls and rules. Before you bid, here’s what you need to know about the Net’s most popular online auction site.
Understanding the Auction Rules
The many rules, customs and regulations of EBay sales are too numerous for one online article. Bottom line: if you’re planning to join the ranks of successful EBay bidders, you need to know and abide by the site’s many rules. Thoroughly peruse the site’s frequently asked questions (FAQs), privacy policy and rules before bidding. You’ll soon learn that EBay is a social community where reputation matters – so avoid stepping on toes with newbie mistakes.
Check the Seller’s Reputation
You have the right to expect an honestly-advertised product from an EBay seller. Make sure you feel comfortable with the seller’s reputation before even considering a bid – check his or her reputation points and comments and do background research if necessary to determine whether it’s a good bet. Bonus points should be awarded for sellers with clear return policies, prompt response times to customer questions and reasonable pricing.
Don’t Get Carried Away
Once the price is right, evaluate your own budget and boundaries. Don’t get sucked into bidding wars in which you surpass your budget – EBay looks askance at bidders who promise to pay, then fail to follow through. If an item is too expensive, pass on it and look for a bargain. You’ll save money and keep your EBay reputation intact.
How to Pay in a Safe Way
If you win an auction, you have the right to expect a fair and private online transaction and prompt delivery of an item that matches the auction description. Consider using a credit card or an online service like PayPal to avoid divulging too much personal information or risk fraudulent transactions. Your credit card company might have buyer protections, and the Federal Fair Credit Billing Act can provide recourse if you are defrauded. NEVER wire money to an EBay seller and avoid personal checks when possible.
Dealing with Disappointments
If the item fails to meet your expectations or there is a problem with delivery, contact the seller immediately to come to a resolution. If your polite requests for resolution are ignored or the seller fails to satisfy you, take advantage of the return policy or contact EBay’s conflict resolution department. In addition, the reputation point system allows you to provide negative feedback about a transaction gone wrong. Know, however, that EBayers frown upon negative feedback being posted before you give the seller a chance to make things right.
You can expect fair treatment, fair advertising, and fairly prompt service from most EBay sellers. To weed out the bad apples, focus on reputation and product quality above all else. Never give unnecessary personal information such as your Social Security number or driver’s license. And keep flawless records to ensure that the transaction is documented.