Fw: Judge: Paxil can be labeled non-addictive

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----- Original Message ----- From: Kathi

Sent: Sunday, October 13, 2002 9:48 AM

Subject: Judge: Paxil can be labeled non-addictive

I know far too many people who have tried for more than a year to get off this anfd can't without very bad syptoms........ Judge: Paxil can be labeled non-addictive Saturday, October 12, 2002 Posted: 9:03 PM EDT (0103 GMT) A judge cleared the way for the makers of Paxil to advertise Paxil as non-additictive. Story Tools LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- A federal judge cleared the way Thursday for the makers of the popular anti-depressant Paxil to resume advertising the drug as non-habit forming. In August, U.S. District Judge na Pfaelzer ruled that Paxil's manufacturer, GlaxoKline, could not advertise Paxil as non-habit forming. She ruled on a request by plaintiffs in a civil lawsuit against Paxil that is pending in her court. But Pfaelzer reconsidered her ruling after lawyers for the Food and Drug Administration argued that it had approved the television commercials after examining Paxil's effects. The FDA told the court there are often side effects when patients stop taking certain medications abruptly. But the FDA labels drugs as habit-forming only when they "cause drug-seeking behavior, often with the user escalating the dose for psychological or physical gratification." Following the judge's earlier ruling, Paxil maker GlaxoKline removed the "non-habit-forming" language from its television ads. The company has not decided if the language will be included in future advertisements, spokeswoman Pekarek said. The judge's decision to ban the FDA-approved language raised the issue of who controlled drug advertising -- the FDA or the federal courts. The pharmaceutical company praised the judge's ruling. "Experts including the FDA and leading physician and mental health organizations agree that anti-depressant medications like Paxil are non-habit-forming," said Stout, president of US Pharmaceuticals, GSK. Plaintiff's attorney Barth argued that the FDA is not in a position to make such determinations because it has 14 employees to review 32,000 pieces of promotional material for drug makers. "The FDA does not have the ability, or the exclusive authority, to decide these issues," Barth said. The 35 patients suing Paxil claim they suffered withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, fever and "electric zaps" to their bodies. Copyright 2002 The Associated Press CNN.com - Judge: Paxil can be labeled non-addictive - Oct. 11, 2002 Address:http://www.cnn.com/2002/HEALTH/10/12/paxil.addictive.ap/index.html