The Cochran Firm Legal Blog

Paxil, GlaxoSmithKline's blockbuster SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor), has cost the company over $1 billion in lawsuit costs. The costs reflect a combination of lawsuits, including pharmaceutical injury lawsuits and antitrust lawsuits, according to court records, and is expected to be only a portion of the drug's final cost to the company.

Paxil has been said to be responsible for many different types of injuries. The first significant risk to come forward with Paxil and other SSRIs was the increased risk of suicide. Although some patients taking Paxil and other SSRIs saw their depression relieved, others saw a spike in suicidal ideation that if undetected led to actual suicide. Accusations have been made in court that GlaxoSmithKline knew about this risk, but concealed it, accusations the company denies.

The risk of suicide ideation was worsened by the sudden withdrawal symptoms experienced by people trying to get themselves off Paxil. Many lawsuits have been filed by people who have experienced Paxil addiction.

In addition, several SSRIs have been associated with serious birth defects in children. Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) is a potentially deadly consequence of taking Paxil during pregnancy. If not properly treated, it can lead to a child's death shortly after birth. In addition, children whose mothers took Paxil during pregnancy were at an elevated risk for heart defects known as ventricular septal defect and atrial septal defect, both of which may require surgery, and can lead to a lifelong risk.

GlaxoSmithKline continues to conceal the number of drug injury lawsuits that it has settled, a decision that has been criticized by some doctors. A psychiatrist at Tufts University School of Medicine said, "It's important to disclose such settlements because it raises the red flag for both doctors and patients that there might be a problem. It would motivate doctors to dig into the literature even more before prescribing these drugs."

That, of course, may be exactly what GlaxoSmithKline is trying to avoid, because Paxil is still big money. Because of its combined liabilities, some speculate that GlaxoSmithKline's total payouts for the drug may be as high as $1.5 billion. However, U.S. sales of the drug in 2002, the last year before generic alternatives of the drug were allowed, were over $2 billion, and the drug continues to bring in significant residuals. Although sales were down to $129 million in 2008 and seem to be down as much as 52% this year, those sales continue to defray the cost of ongoing lawsuits.

If you or a loved one has suffered a significant pharmaceutical injury from using Paxil or another SSRI, the pharmaceutical injury lawyers at The Cochran Firm can help. Please call or email us today for a free case evaluation.