June 14, 2004

The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHPRA) is set to warn that some of the SSRI antidepressants can cause adults to become suicidal.

An expert working group of the government's Committee on the Safety of Medicine (CSM) has already warned that all but one (Prozac) of the SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), including Seroxat, should not be given to children. It found there were risks of children becoming suicidal, aggressive and having mood swings, and the drugs were anyway not very effective.

The committee is now also close to completing its review of the safety and efficacy of the SSRIs in adults. And, according to societyguardian.co.uk, the committee has found a similar picture and the MHPRA is likely to impose restrictions on the use of some of them.

The decision is likey to lead to further confusion and uncertainty among doctors treating depression. Child psychiatrists and GPs have shown conflicting reactions to the SSRI ban - some of them continuing to use the drugs. Guidelines from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (Nice) on treating depression in adults were due to be published this month, but have been postponed pending the MHPRA announcement. Guidelines on treating children are not due until next year.

An estimated 40,000 children were on SSRIs last year.

Societyguardian.co.uk has also reported today on grave concerns that the MHPRA has encouraged Eli Lilly to apply for a licence for Prozac to treat children in the UK and the rest of Europe.

Societyguardian.co.uk article in full

See also:
June 7, 2004: Glaxo faces Seroxat fraud lawsuit - claims that firm suppressed results of studies showing Seroxat was no more effective than a placebo and even harmful.
April 4, 2004: GPs 'forced' to overprescribe antidepressants - survey shows 80% of doctors believe they are writing too many prescriptions for SSRIs
March 28: SSRI antidepressants must carry warnings that people might become suicidal while taking them - US drug regulator states
March 21: Chief exec of Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency criticises charity director for provoking "alarm" and "confusion" over antidepressant safety - Richard Brook faces rebuffal after accusing Committee of Safety on Medicines group of negligence over its investigations into SSRI antidepressants.
March 15: MIND's chief executive resigns from expert group reviewing safety of antidepressants - Richard Brook accuses regulatory agency of negligence

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