AFP report indicates that there is not only in France that these products are problematic. But the public authorities French seem to be much slower and more reluctant to act.
The U.S. administration responsible for monitoring food and drug Administration (FDA) decided Friday to impose warnings strongest possible against the increased risk of suicidal tendencies among young people treated with antidepressants.
The packaging of these drugs should now have a warning with a black "black box" which is the strongest used by the FDA to warn doctors and patients as against the potential dangers of treatment. The FDA has followed, as she had already made it clear to hear the recommendations of a committee independent experts who had ruled last September by 15 votes against eight for such a measure. "This decision follows the conclusions of the FDA regarding the increased risk of suicidal thoughts and the need to inform physicians prescribing these anti-depressants and children and adolescents to whom they are intended," he said in a statement Acting Commissioner of FDA, Dr. Lester Crawford. "Our conclusions are based on the latest scientific information and best that are available," he added. "They reflect what we heard from our Committee of Experts as well as the public, "said Dr. Crawford.
He also stressed that the FDA had tried to balance the increased risk of suicidal tendencies and the proven positive effects of anti-depressants for treating depressed children and adolescents. "We continue to believe that these drugs are effective when used appropriately," said Dr Crawford.
The committee's conclusions were based on a series of clinical trials have been conducted on more than 4,000 young people from five major manufacturers anti-depressants prescribed in the United States. These studies have shown that a young person taking these antidepressants were twice as likely to have suicidal thoughts than another who were given placebos. No completed suicides occurred in this group, said the FDA.
But several parents whose children have committed suicide and taking anti-depressants, had been heard by the committee of experts from the FDA.
According to studies cited above, Celexa, Prozac and Zoloft have the lowest risk of increasing suicidal thoughts. However, Luvox, Effexor and Paxil have been found to cause more suicidal tendencies, said the researchers. Prozac is the only antidepressant approved to treat depressed youth. But the new warnings will appear on all antidepressants marketed in the United States, said the FDA.
The speed with which the FDA made its decision a month after the recommendations of expert is unusual. It comes as the agency is under fire from critics for the current shortage of flu vaccines and the recent recall of Vioxx, an anti-inflammatory, because of heart risks it presented. © AFP
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The U.S. administration responsible for monitoring food and drug Administration (FDA) decided Friday to impose warnings strongest possible against the increased risk of suicidal tendencies among young people treated with antidepressants.
The packaging of these drugs should now have a warning with a black "black box" which is the strongest used by the FDA to warn doctors and patients as against the potential dangers of treatment. The FDA has followed, as she had already made it clear to hear the recommendations of a committee independent experts who had ruled last September by 15 votes against eight for such a measure. "This decision follows the conclusions of the FDA regarding the increased risk of suicidal thoughts and the need to inform physicians prescribing these anti-depressants and children and adolescents to whom they are intended," he said in a statement Acting Commissioner of FDA, Dr. Lester Crawford. "Our conclusions are based on the latest scientific information and best that are available," he added. "They reflect what we heard from our Committee of Experts as well as the public, "said Dr. Crawford.
He also stressed that the FDA had tried to balance the increased risk of suicidal tendencies and the proven positive effects of anti-depressants for treating depressed children and adolescents. "We continue to believe that these drugs are effective when used appropriately," said Dr Crawford.
The committee's conclusions were based on a series of clinical trials have been conducted on more than 4,000 young people from five major manufacturers anti-depressants prescribed in the United States. These studies have shown that a young person taking these antidepressants were twice as likely to have suicidal thoughts than another who were given placebos. No completed suicides occurred in this group, said the FDA.
But several parents whose children have committed suicide and taking anti-depressants, had been heard by the committee of experts from the FDA.
According to studies cited above, Celexa, Prozac and Zoloft have the lowest risk of increasing suicidal thoughts. However, Luvox, Effexor and Paxil have been found to cause more suicidal tendencies, said the researchers. Prozac is the only antidepressant approved to treat depressed youth. But the new warnings will appear on all antidepressants marketed in the United States, said the FDA.
The speed with which the FDA made its decision a month after the recommendations of expert is unusual. It comes as the agency is under fire from critics for the current shortage of flu vaccines and the recent recall of Vioxx, an anti-inflammatory, because of heart risks it presented. © AFP
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