Paxil Maker Ordered to Pay $8 Million
Lawsuit settled in August 2001

The manufacturers of Paxil, SmithKline Beecham were ordered to pay the relatives of Donald Schell $8 Million dollars in wrongful death law suit. Mr. Schell, originally from Wyoming, killed himself, his wife, daughter and granddaughter on February 13, 1998, after taking Paxil prescribed to him by his doctor.

The jury concluded that, in some circumstances, Paxil may cause a person to commit suicide or homicide and assigned 80 percent of the fault for the murders in the case to the drug manufacturer.

The lawsuit argued that the drug maker had known since 1990 that Paxil can produce suicidal and homicidal reactions in certain people but failed to provide adequate warnings to doctors and patients about these deadly reactions.


Company Must Release Damaging Data

In August 2004 GlaxoSmithKline agreed to a $2.5 million settlement with the Attorney General of New York over claims the company committed fraud by withholding negative information about their potentially dangerous drug. The Attorney General believed that the company had misrepresented data about the safety of Paxil in children. It was alleged that Glaxo had concealed information from four different studies that concluded the drug was both ineffective in treating depression in children and also resulted in an increased the risk of suicidal thoughts.

By the terms of the settlement, the company must now release all damaging information it has collected regarding the dangers of Paxil.

The FDA has never approved the use of Paxil in children. However the company has promoted its use among physicians who have widely prescribed the drug believing it was a safe and effective treatment for young patients.

 

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