Paxil linked to suicide attempts among adults

Paxil or paroxetine hydrochloride (which is sold as Seroxat in the UK) is in trouble again. The manufacturer, GlaxoSmithKline, was so negligent about quality that the FDA seized the drug during a raid in March this year.

Now a study published by University of Oslo scientists finds that the risk of suicide attempt is four times higher among those taking the drug than those on a placebo. The use of the drug is already banned for patients under 18.

Paxil or Seroxat belong to the same family of drugs as Prozac which has also been found to be linked with increased risk of suicide in many studies. However, despite expectations that Prozac might be recalled, nothing has happened.