Researchers at the University of Oslo in Norway have found an increased risk of suicide among patients prescribed the antidepressant Paxil (paroxetine), sold as Seroxat in Europe. Dr. Ivar Aursnes and his colleagues studied 916 adults on paroxetine and compared them with 550 patients taking placebos. Of the Paxil patients, seven committed suicide, compared to one suicide in the control group.

In December 2004, the UK Department of Health issued new guidance on Seroxat/Paxil indicating that the drug should not be given as an initial treatment to patients exhibiting symptoms of mild depression due to the increased risk of suicide. In April 2005, European health regulators warned all countries in the European Union that Seroxat/Paxil and other antidepressants should not be used to treat children and adolescents. The Oslo researchers came to similar conclusions and strongly advised that patients and doctors should be warned of the propensity to suicidal thoughts while on Seroxat/Paxil.

GlaxoSmithKline, the drug’s manufacturer, immediately issued a statement that the findings of the Oslo researchers does not reflect the picture they gained in their clinical trial program which involved 24,000 patients.

Sources: Genevieve Roberts, “Antidepressant Seroxat linked to suicide attempts among adults,” Independent Online, August 22, 2005; “Glaxo’s Paxil Antidepressant Linked to Suicide,” Bloomberg.com, August 21, 2005.