Antidepressants News
Study: Autism Linked to Antidepressant Drug Use During Pregnancy
The use of antidepressants during pregnancy increases the risk of autism spectrum disorders in children, according to a Swedish study. The New York Times reported on the study that collected data from the Swedish medical birth register and other publicly funded sources that screen for autism spectrum disorders. The researchers also took other factors linked [...]
‘Side Effects’ Shines Weak Light on Dark Side of Antidepressants, Drug Companies
One pill can change your life. That’s the premise for director Steven Soderbergh’s dark pharmaceutical thriller, “Side Effects.” Even with all the benefits they provide, antidepressants still have their dark side, and the movie makes that clear. Starring Jude Law and Rooney Mara, “Side Effects” leads the audience to believe it will provide a solution [...]
Lexapro Manufacturer Struggles as Patent Expires, Lawsuits Grow
The makers of the popular antidepressant Lexapro (escitalopram) reported a net loss in sales resulting from expiration of the drug’s patent in March 2012. New York-based Forest Laboratories disclosed that it lost $153.6 million, or 58 cents per diluted share, in the fiscal quarter that ended in December 2012. Lexapro rose to popularity soon after [...]
New Studies Support Natural Treatments for Depression
Two new studies provide alternative treatment options for people who suffer from depression but either want to avoid antidepressants or have found antidepressants ineffective. This is especially good news for pregnant women with depression, because antidepressants have been linked to serious birth defects if taken during pregnancy. Around two-thirds of people with depression do not [...]
Paxil Birth Defect Lawsuit Qualifies for Class-Action Status in Canada
A British Columbia Supreme Court judge has ruled that a woman whose daughter was born with birth defects associated with taking a prescribed antidepressant during pregnancy can proceed with a class-action lawsuit against the drug’s manufacturer. The plaintiff, Faith Gibson, filed charges against GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), maker of the antidepressant Paxil (paroxetine), after her daughter, Meah [...]
Updated DSM Expands Definition of Depression, Among Other Changes
Recent changes to the diagnostic handbook used by mental health practitioners include broadening the definition of depression, expanding the definition of autism and adding disorders on binge eating and one that is sometimes referred to as the “tantrum disorder.” The American Psychiatric Association (APA) recently finished revising the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders [...]