Furious Seasons

October 05, 2009

Study: Paxil Is Worst Drug For Suicide Attempts

An interesting paper came out in PLoS last week in which researchers from the University of Alabama looked at suicidal ideations reported in the FDA's adverse events database for 832 prescription drugs and compared that with suicide attempts reported in the database. The study covered 2004 through 2008 and found that Paxil was by far the worst drug of any kind on the market with 1,323 suicide attempts.

Interestingly, Paxil accounted for about one-third of all suicide attempts reported for all 32 anti-depressants (1,323 for Paxil and 3,572 for all anti-depressants). Analgesics had the most suicide attempts reported with their use at 4,184, although I'm completely unclear if those reports involve suicide attempts via overdose of analgesics or what.

A reader emailed me over the weekend and asked if anyone still prescribes Paxil (paroxetine in generic form), given all of its well-known problems. The answer is "Yes," but I don't know how many scrips a year are written for the drug in the US. I know several people in Seattle who take Paxil. So it's still fairly commonly prescribed as far as I know.

Posted by Philip Dawdy at October 5, 2009 12:03 AM

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NB: College basketball fans know this well: UAB is an entirely separate school from the University of Alabama. While Alabama has been around since 183something, UAB has been independent, being its own institution, with its own board of regents, etc., for about 40 years. Alabama may have many claims to fame, roll tide, but a well-recognized school of public health, go blazers, in the heart of the region's leading medical center, is not one of them.

Posted by: medsvstherapy at October 5, 2009 11:35 AM

Paxil has to go. There is no other alternative.

At www.thesaveproject.com the audio/video file that is playing when the Website opens has some of the 2004 FDA hearings in it. The beginning segment is a 14 year old girl on Paxil who is actually going through a suicide attempt. Then it moves to the FDA hearings.

Just thought some of your readers might be interested.

Posted by: Rosie at October 5, 2009 12:54 PM

I took Paxil briefly. It felt as if something, some vital life force within me, immediately died. I told my doc (PCP who listens). He said it was my libido. I never knew I had one of those. Got off it immediately. Never again.

Posted by: Sherry at October 5, 2009 04:41 PM

Before I was diagnosed as bipolar, I was prescribed Paxil for the treatment of depression, and was on several different doses for about 3 years. It didn't work and my GP kept prescribing the different doses to see if anything changed. It seemed to make my depression worse. The most horrific part of Paxil though, was the withdrawal. The doctor 'tapered' me off of them, but it wasn't enough. I'd been on them a long time, and she gave me a month. It took me nearly 3 months, because of the severe withdrawal sickness that I had. I later read somewhere that SSRI withdrawal is comparable to that of Heroin withdrawal. Well, could be! It was one of the most terrible experiences I've ever gone through. I was SO sick. Anyway. Paxil is bad stuff. (Seattle resident here, btw). There should be commercials - "Paxil: Just say no."

Posted by: Kidron at October 5, 2009 07:09 PM