Anti-depressant drugs are sold under multiple brand names around the world. Prozac in the US is sold elsewhere as Fluctine Lilly, Prozac Lilly, Prozac Dista Lilly, Fluxeren Merarini, and Fantex Lilly; Zoloft in the US is sold elsewhere as Zoloft Pfizer, Serlain Pfizer/Roerig, Lustral Pfizer/Invicta, and Besitran Pfizer; Paxil in the US is sold elsewhere as Aropax, Deroxat, Paroxet, Paxan, Paxtine, Paxxet, Seroxat, Tagonis, and XET; Wellbutrin in the US is sold elsewhere as Wellbutrin SR and Zyban SR; and Celexa in the US is sold elsewhere as Cipramil.

 
Graphic: Advancing the rights of patients
The Controversy Over Antidepressants
          Antidepressant prescription drugs developed for adults are regularly prescribed to young persons even though most have never been specifically approved for use by depressed children and adolescents.
          It is estimated that children and adolescents make up about 8% of patients prescribed antidepressant drugs in the U.S., constituting over ten million prescriptions dispensed for patients younger than 18 years in 2003. These drugs include Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Wellbutrin and Celexa.
          In September 2004, a US Food and Drug Administration advisory committee called for the labels of all antidepressants to get a tough "black box" warning about the risk of increased suicidal tendencies in young people. Such warnings are used to signal extremely serious side effects for a prescription drug.
          The recommendation applies to all antidepressants, including newer categories such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and older ones, such as tricyclics. The committee's broadly worded proposal also appears likely to encompass newly approved products. The committee, however, stopped short of urging the agency to recommend against the use of any of the antidepressants for young people.
Child Suicide and Wrongful Death Lawsuits

          Parents of children prescribed antidepressant medications who committed suicide have filed wrongful death lawsuits claiming that the pharmaceutical companies failed to disclose the link between the drugs and increased suicidal thoughts and behaviors in young people.
Legal Background: The Rights of Patients Injured by Prescription Drugs
          The law in most states provides several personal injury claims for persons who have been seriously injured by a prescription drug with dangerous, undisclosed side effects. These claims include strict liability for a defective product, breach of warranty, negligence, and misrepresentation.

           Damages sought against manufacturers of an allegedly dangerous prescription drug typically include:

  • Physical pain and suffering, mental anguish and physical impairment;
  • Medical expenses associated with the allegedly defective product; and
  • Loss of earnings and/or earning capacity.
           For persons who have died, family members can bring a wrongful death action.
Contact Lieff Cabraser
           If you or a family member have suffered a serious injury or a loved one committed suicide after being prescribed an antidepressant drug, you may be eligible to file a claim against the manufacturer.
           Please click here to contact an attorney at Lieff Cabraser to discuss your legal rights at no cost or obligation. We will handle all inquiries with the strictest confidentiality and sensitivity.
           Alternatively, you may call us toll-free at 1-800-541-7358 and ask to speak to partner Heather A. Foster.
           We also welcome inquiries from counsel considering referring a case. Lieff Cabraser has strong relations with the plaintiffs’ bar across the US
Lieff Cabraser: Experienced Product Liability Lawyers
          Founded in 1972, Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP is a nearly sixty attorney law firm with offices in San Francisco, New York, Washington, D.C., Beverly Hills, and Nashville. In 2003 and 2004, the National Law Journal recognized Lieff Cabraser as one of the top 20 plaintiffs’ law firms in America.
          For our personal injury cases, we bring a team of experienced lawyers. Each client is assigned a partner and an associate. In addition, we have on staff multiple nurses, legal assistants, scientific analysts and case clerks to assist the attorneys.
          We have represented thousands of patients who ingested prescription drugs with dangerous undisclosed side effects, and patients who received defective medical devices in personal injury lawsuits across America, including residents of Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia and Wyoming.
          We look forward to communicating with you and answering any questions you may have. To learn more about the competitive advantages our firm offers clients in personal injury and products liability cases, click here.
Notice on Practice and Statute of Limitations
          Lieff Cabraser attorneys provide legal advice and practice law for clients in federal district courts throughout the United States and in state courts where we are licensed to practice. In states in which our lawyers are not licensed to practice, we have affiliations with local attorneys who serve as co-counsel with our firm. Please read our Disclaimer.
          Persons seeking to preserve any potential legal claims for allegedly dangerous and/or defective products should contact an attorney promptly because all states have mandatory time periods (called "statutes of limitation") within which lawsuits must be filed. Otherwise, a person's claims may be forever barred. In some states, the statute of limitations period for filing personal injury claims is only one year from the date of injury.
Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP
Trademark Notice
          "Prozac" is a registered trademark of Eli Lilly and Company. "Paxil" and "Wellbutrin" are registered trademarks of GlaxoSmithKline. "Zoloft" is a registered trademark of Pfizer Inc. "Celexa" is a registered trademark of Forest Pharmaceuticals, Inc. The use of these marks is solely for product identification purposes. Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP, is in no way affiliated with Eli Lilly and Company, GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer Inc. or Forest Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Copyright © 2004 Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP

Since 2003, a controversy has raged over potential risks related to the use of anti-depressants in young people. Parents of children who have committed suicide after being prescribed anti-depressants have filed lawsuits for negligence against the drug manufacturers and treating physicians.

To contact in confidence an experienced personal injury attorney at Lieff Cabraser regarding this litigation, click here.






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Lieff Cabraser has participated in twenty $100 million-plus settlements and verdicts. To read a summary, click here.