Paroxetine linked to increased suicide rates in adults

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A study indicates that adults taking paroxetine are at an increased risk of suicide attempts, according to data gathered about 16 clinical trials using the drug.

The article (and maybe the study?) fails to mention whether these people were suicidal to begin with, and also fails to provide adequate number data to reflect upon, other than the total resultant cases of suicide attempts - 7 while on paroxetine, 1 while on placebo. There are always factors to consider other than just the drug being taken when determining causes for these things. And that is why psychologists report it as 'linked' to paroxetine use rather than caused by it.

http://www.psycport.com/showArticle.cfm?xmlFile=comtex%5F2005%5F08%5F23%5F up%5F0000%2D6025%2D%2Edsthealthcare%5F03%2Exml&provider=United%20Press%20International

*see Reply below for more

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Regarding the study talked about in the article above, GlaxoSmithKline, manufacturer of paroxetine (also Paxil) issued a statement saying the study was flawed and relied on results of 'incorrectly selected data' from 15 years ago when GSK was still seeking approval for the medicine. They say there are now more reliable reports available that the Norwegian scientists failed to acknowledge in their study.

By the way, they mention that the trials discussed above in which 7 patients made attempts at suicide had more than 1500 patients enrolled in the program. (which answers one of my own questions)

http://olympics.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=healthNews&storyID=2005-08-22T170324Z_01_EIC261349_RTRIDST_0_HEALTH-GLAXO-DEPRESSION-DC.XML