Lexapro Exposed

Lexapro. Lexapro truth. Lexapro side effects and Lexapro withdrawal. Lexapro information. List of Lexapro side effects and how withdrawal from Lexapro can be accomplished. Lexapro.

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Paxil Suicide Product Liability Class Action Filed By Wrongful Death and Personal Injury Law Firm
Philadelphia, PA  19106   March 23 2006
 

A Mix of Medicines That Can Be Lethal

By JANE E. BRODY

Published: February 27, 2007

The death of Libby Zion, an 18-year-old college student, in a New York hospital on March 5, 1984, led to a highly publicized court battle and created a cause célèbre over the lack of supervision of inexperienced and overworked young doctors. But only much later did experts zero in on the preventable disorder that apparently led to Ms. Zion’s death: a form of drug poisoning called serotonin syndrome.


Stuart Bradford

Ms. Zion, who went to the hospital with a fever of 103.5, had been taking a prescribed antidepressant, phenelzine (Nardil). The combination of phenelzine and the narcotic painkiller meperidine (Demerol) given to her at the hospital could raise the level of circulating serotonin to dangerous levels. When she became agitated, a symptom of serotonin toxicity, and tried to pull out her intravenous tubes, she was restrained, and the resulting muscular tension is believed to have sent her fever soaring to lethal heights.

Now, with the enormous rise in the use of serotonin-enhancing antidepressants, often taken in combination with other drugs that also raise serotonin levels, emergency medicine specialists are trying to educate doctors and patients about this not-so-rare and potentially life-threatening disorder. In March 2005, two such specialists, Dr. Edward W. Boyer and Dr. Michael Shannon of Children’s Hospital Boston, noted that more than 85 percent of doctors were “unaware of the serotonin syndrome as a clinical diagnosis.”

In their review in The New England Journal of Medicine, Dr. Boyer and Dr. Shannon cited a report based on calls to poison control centers around the country in 2002 showing 7,349 cases of serotonin toxicity and 93 deaths. (In 2005, the last year for which statistics are available, 118 deaths were reported.)

The experts fear that failure to recognize serotonin syndrome in its mild or early stages can result in improper treatment and an abrupt worsening of the condition, leading to severe illness or death. Even more important, in hopes of preventing it, they want doctors — and patients — to know just what drugs and drug combinations can cause serotonin poisoning.

A Diagnostic Challenge

Serotonin syndrome was first described in medical literature in 1959 in a patient with tuberculosis who was treated with meperidine. But it wasn’t given its current name until 1982.

Recognizing the early signs is tricky because it has varying symptoms that can be easily confused with less serious conditions, including tremor, diarrhea, high blood pressure, anxiety and agitation. The examining physician may regard early symptoms as inconsequential and may not think to relate them to drug therapy, Dr. Boyer and Dr. Shannon noted.

In its classic form, serotonin syndrome involves three categories of symptoms:

¶Cognitive-behavioral symptoms like confusion, disorientation, agitation, irritability, unresponsiveness and anxiety.

¶Neuromuscular symptoms like muscle spasms, exaggerated reflexes, muscular rigidity, tremors, loss of coordination and shivering.

Autonomic nervous system symptoms like fever, profuse sweating, rapid heart rate, raised blood pressure and dilated pupils.

Widespread ignorance of the syndrome is another diagnostic impediment. But even when doctors know about it, the strict diagnostic criteria may rule out “what are now recognized as mild, early or subacute stages of the disorder,” Dr. Boyer and Dr. Shannon wrote.

Perhaps adding to the diagnostic challenge is the fact that a huge number of drugs — prescription, over the counter, recreational and herbal — can trigger the syndrome. In addition to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors like Zoloft, Prozac and Paxil and serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors like Effexor, the list includes tricyclic antidepressants and MAOIs (for monoamine oxidase inhibitors); narcotic painkillers like fentanyl and tramadol; over-the-counter cough and cold remedies containing dextromethorphan; the anticonvulsant valproate; triptans like Imitrex used to treat and prevent migraines; the antibiotic Zyvox (linezolide); antinausea drugs; the anti-Parkinson’s drug L-dopa; the weight-loss drug Meridia (sibutramine); lithium; the dietary supplements tryptophan, St. John’s wort and ginseng; and several drugs of abuse, including ecstasy, LSD, amphetamines, the hallucinogens foxy methoxy and Syrian rue.

Although serotonin poisoning can be caused by an antidepressant overdose, it more often results from a combination of an S.S.R.I. or MAOI with another serotonin-raising substance. Patients at particular risk, some experts say, are those taking combinations of antidepressant and antipsychotic drugs sometimes prescribed to treat resistant depression. All it may take is a small dose of another serotonin-inducing drug to cause the syndrome.

One patient, a 45-year-old Bostonian, had been taking four drugs to treat depression when he had surgery on an ankle last December. He developed several classic signs of serotonin syndrome while in the recovery room, where he had been given fentanyl when the anesthetic wore off.

As described by his wife, he suddenly developed tremors and violent shaking and started cracking his teeth. He was moved to the intensive care unit, where he thrashed and flailed, was oblivious to those around him, and had to be restrained to keep from pulling out his tubes. Two weeks later, he was still in intensive care and still very confused, despite being taken off all medications that could have caused his symptoms.

Serotonin syndrome can occur at any age, including in the elderly, in newborns and even in dogs. Since 1998, the poison control center at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has gotten more than a thousand reports of the ingestion of antidepressant medications by dogs, which can develop symptoms rapidly and die. The syndrome can also occur weeks after a serotonin-raising drug has been discontinued. Some drugs remain active in the body for weeks, and the MAOIs disable an enzyme involved in serotonin metabolism that does not recover until weeks after the drugs are stopped.

Prevention and Treatment

Most cases of serotonin syndrome are mild and resolved within 24 hours. But if the doctor fails to recognize them and prescribes either a larger dose of a serotonin enhancer or another serotonin-raising drug, the consequences can be rapid and severe.

Most important to preventing the syndrome is for patients to give each of their doctors a complete list of drugs they regularly take — including prescriptions, over-the-counter medication, dietary supplements and recreational drugs — before a doctor prescribes something new.

Indeed, if you are taking any of the drugs described above, you might ask whether a new prescription is safe. And when filling a new prescription, it’s not a bad idea to also ask the pharmacist whether the medication, or an over-the-counter remedy you are considering, is safe to combine with any other drugs you take.

Once the syndrome develops, the first step is to stop the offending drugs. It is crucial to seek immediate care, preferably in a hospital. Most cases require only treatment of symptoms like agitation, elevated blood pressure and body temperature, and a tincture of time.

More severe cases are treated with drugs that inhibit serotonin and chemical sedation. Dr. Boyer and Dr. Shannon cautioned against using physical restraints to control agitation because they could enforce isometric muscle contractions that cause a severe buildup of lactic acid and a life-threatening rise in body temperature.

Lexapro side effects
 
Body

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Dry Mouth - The usual amount to moisture in the mouth is noticeably less.

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Sweating Increased - A large quantity of perspiration that is medically caused.

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Cardiovascular (Involving the heart and the blood vessels)

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Palpitation - Unusual and not normal heartbeat, that is sometimes irregular, but rapid and forceful thumping or fluttering.  It can be brought on by shock, excitement, exertion, or medical stimulants.  A person is normally unaware of his/her heartbeat.

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Hypertension - is high blood pressure, which is a symptom of disease in the blood vessels leading away from the heart.  Hypertension is known as the “silent killer”.  The symptoms are usually not obvious, however it can lead to damage to the heart, brain, kidneys and eye, and even to stroke and kidney failure. Treatment includes dietary and lifestyle changes.

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Bradycardia - The heart rate is slowed from 72 beats per minute, which is normal, to below 60 beats per minute in an adult.

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Tachycardia - The heart rate is speeded up to above 100 beats per minute in an adult.  Normal adult heart rate is 72 beats per minute.

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ECG Abnormal - A test called an electrocardiogram (ECG) that records the activity of the heart.  It measures heartbeats as will as the position and size of the heart’s four chambers.  It also measures if there is damage to the heart and the effects of drugs or mechanical devices like a pacemaker on the heart.  When the test is abnormal this means that one or more of the following are present: heart disease, defects, beating too fast or too slow, disease of the blood vessels leading from the heart or of the heart valves, and/or a past or about to occur heart attack. 

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Flushing
- The skin all over the body turns red.

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Varicose Vein
- Unusually swollen veins near the surface of the skin that sometimes appear twisted and knotted, but always enlarged.  They are called hemorrhoids when they appear around the rectum.  The cause is attributed to hereditary weakness in the veins aggravated by obesity, pregnancy, pressure from standing, aging, etc.  Severe cases may develop swelling in the legs, ankles and feet, eczema and/or ulcers in the affected areas.

Lexapro side effects
 Gastrointestinal (Involving the stomach and the intestines)

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Abdominal Cramp/Pain
- Sudden, severe, uncontrollable and painful shortening and thickening of the muscles in the belly.  The belly includes the stomach as well as the intestines, liver, kidneys, pancreas, spleen, gall bladder, and urinary bladder.

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Belching
- Noisy release of gas from the stomach through the mouth; a burp.

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Bloating
- Swelling of the belly caused by excessive intestinal gas.

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Constipation
- Difficulty in having a bowel movement where the material in the bowels is hard due to a lack of exercise, fluid intake, and roughage in the diet, or due to certain drugs.

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Diarrhea
- Unusually frequent and excessive, runny bowel movements that may result in severe dehydration and shock

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Dyspepsia
- Indigestion.  This is the discomfort you experience after eating.  It can be heartburn, gas, nausea, a bellyache or bloating.

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Flatulence
- More gas than normal in the digestive organs.

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Gagging
- Involuntary choking and/or involuntary throwing up.

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Gastritis
- A severe irritation of the mucus lining of the stomach either short in duration or lasting for a long period of time.

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Gastroenteritis
- A condition where the membranes of the stomach and intestines are irritated.

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Gastroesophageal Reflux
- A continuous state where stomach juices flow back into the throat causing acid indigestion and heartburn and possibly injury to the throat.

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Heartburn
- A burning pain in the area of the breastbone caused by stomach juices flowing back up into the throat.

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Hemorrhoids
- Small rounded purplish swollen veins that either bleed, itch or are painful and appear around the anus.

 

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Increased Stool frequency -
Diarrhea.  

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Indigestion
- Unable to properly consume and absorb food in the digestive tract causing constipation, nausea, stomach ache, gas, swollen belly, pain and general discomfort or sickness.

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Nausea
- Stomach irritation with a queasy sensation similar to motion sickness and a feeling that one is going to vomit.

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Polyposis Gastric
- Tumors that grow on stems in the lining of the stomach, which usually become cancerous.

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Swallowing Difficulty
- A feeling that food is stuck in the throat or upper chest area and won’t go down, making it difficult to swallow.

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Toothache
- Pain in a tooth above and below the gum line.

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Vomiting
- Involuntarily throwing up the contents of the stomach and usually getting a nauseated, sick feeling just prior to doing so.

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General

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Allergy - The extreme sensitivity of body tissues triggered by substances in the air, drugs, or foods causing a reaction like sneezing, itching, asthma, hay fever, skin rashes, nausea and/or vomiting.

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Anaphylaxis - A violent, sudden, and severe drop in blood pressure caused by a re-exposure to a foreign protein or a second dosage of a drug that may be fatal unless emergency treatment is given right away.

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Asthenia - A physically weak condition.

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Chest Pains - Severe discomfort in the chest caused by not enough oxygen going to the heart because of narrowing of the blood vessels or spasms.

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Chills - Appearing pale while cold and shivering; sometimes with a fever.

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Edema of Extremities - Abnormal swelling of the body’s tissue caused by the collection of fluid.

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Fall - To suddenly lose your normal standing upright position as if you were shot.

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Fatigue - Loss of normal strength so as to not be able to do the usual physical and mental activities. 

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Fever - Abnormally high body temperature, the normal being 98 degrees Fahrenheit or 37 degrees Centigrade in humans, which is a symptom of disease or disorder in the body.  The body is affected by feeling hot, chilled, sweaty, weak and exhausted.  If the fever goes too high, death can result.

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Hot Flashes - Brief, abnormal enlargement of the blood vessels that causes a sudden heat sensation over the entire body.  Women in menopause will sometimes experience this.

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Influenza-like Symptoms - Demonstrating irritation of the respiratory tract (organs of breathing) such as a cold, sudden fever, aches and pains, as well as feeling weak and seeking bed rest, which is similar to having the flu.

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Leg Pain - A hurtful sensation in the legs that is caused by excessive stimulation of the nerve endings in the legs and results in extreme discomfort.

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Malaise - The somewhat unclear feeling of discomfort you get when you start to feel sick.

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Pain in Limb - Sudden, sharp and uncontrolled leg discomfort.

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Syncope - A short period of light headedness or unconsciousness (black-out) also know as fainting caused by lack of oxygen to the brain because of an interruption in blood flowing to the brain.

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Tightness of Chest - Mild or sharp discomfort, tightness or pressure in the chest area (anywhere between the throat and belly).  The causes can be mild or seriously life-threatening because they include the heart, lungs and surrounding muscles.

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Hemic and Lymphatic Disorders (Involving the blood and the clear fluids in the tissues that contain white blood cells)

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Bruise - Damage to the skin resulting in a purple-green-yellow skin coloration that’s caused by breaking the blood vessels in the area without breaking the surface of the skin.

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Anemia - A condition where the blood is no longer carrying enough oxygen, so the person looks pale and easily gets dizzy, weak and tired.  More severely, a person can end up with an abnormal heart, as well as breathing and digestive difficulties.  The causes of anemia are not enough protein in the red blood cells, or missing and chemically destroyed red blood cells, as well as diseased or destroyed bone marrow.

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Nosebleed - Blood lost from the part of the face that has the organs of smell and is where the body takes in oxygen.

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Hematoma - Broken blood vessels that cause a swelling in an area on the body.

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Lymphadenopathy Cervical - The lymph nodes in the neck, which are part of the body’s immune system get swollen and enlarge by reacting to the presence of a drug.  The swelling is the result of the white blood cells multiplying in order to fight the invasion of the drug.

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Metabolic and Nutritional Disorders (Energy and health)

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Arthralgia - Sudden sharp nerve pain in one or more joints.

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Arthropathy - Having joint disease or abnormal joints.

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Arthritis - Painfully inflamed and swollen joints.  The reddened and swollen condition is brought on by a serious injury or shock to the body either from physical or emotional causes.

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Back Discomfort
- Severe physical distress in the area from the neck to the pelvis along the backbone.

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Bilirubin Increased
- Bilirubin is a waste product of the breakdown of old blood cells.  Bilirubin is sent to the liver to be made water-soluble so it can be eliminated from the body through emptying the bladder.  A drug can interfere with or damage this normal liver function creating liver disease.

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Decreased Weight
- Uncontrolled and measured loss of heaviness or weight.

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Gout
- A severe arthritis condition that is caused by the dumping of a waste product called uric acid in the tissues and joints.  It can become worse and cause the body to develop a deformity after going through stages of pain, inflammation, severe tenderness, and stiffness.

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Hepatic Enzymes Increased
- An increase in the amount of paired liver proteins that regulate liver processes causing a condition where the liver functions abnormally.

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Hypercholesterolemia
- Too much cholesterol in the blood cells.

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Hyperglycemia
- An unhealthy amount of sugar in the blood.

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Increased Weight
- A concentration and storage of fat in the body accumulating over a period of time caused by unhealthy eating patterns, that can predispose the body to many disorders and diseases.

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Jaw Pain
- The pain due to irritation and swelling of the nerves associated with the mouth area where it opens and closes just in front of the ear.  Some of the symptoms are pain when chewing, head aches, losing your balance, stuffy ears or ringing in the ears, and teeth grinding.

Lexapro side effects
 
Jaw Stiffness
- The result of squeezing and grinding the teeth while asleep that can cause your teeth to deteriorate as well as the muscles and joints of the jaw.

Lexapro side effects
 
Joint Stiffness
- A loss of free motion and easy flexibility where any two bones come together.

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Muscle Cramp
- When muscles contract uncontrollably without warning and do not relax.  The muscles of any of the body’s organs can cramp.

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Muscle Stiffness
- Tightening of muscles making it difficult to bend.

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Muscle Weakness
- Loss of physical strength.

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Myalgia
- A general widespread pain and tenderness of the muscles.

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Thirst - A strong, unnatural craving for moisture/water in the mouth and throat. 

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Nervous System (Sensory channels)

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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- A pinched nerve in the wrist that causes pain, tingling, and numbing.

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Coordination Abnormal
- A lack of normal, harmonious interaction of the parts of the body when it is in motion.

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Dizziness
- Losing one’s balance while feeling unsteady and lightheaded which may lead to fainting.

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Disequilibrium
- Lack of mental and emotional balance.

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Faintness
- A temporary condition where one is likely to go unconscious and fall.

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Headache
- A sharp or dull persistent pain in the head

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Hyperreflexia
- A not normal and involuntary increased response in the tissues connecting the bones to the muscles.

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Light-headed Feeling
– Uncontrolled and usually brief loss of consciousness caused by lack of oxygen to the brain.

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Migraine
- Reoccurring severe head pain usually with nausea, vomiting, dizziness, flashes or spots before the eyes, and ringing in the ears

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Muscle Contractions Involuntary
- Spontaneous and uncontrollable tightening reaction of the muscles caused by electrical impulses from the nervous system.

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Muscular Tone Increased
- Uncontrolled and exaggeration muscle tension.  Muscles are normally partially tensed and this is what gives us muscle tone. 

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Paresthesia
- Burning, prickly, itchy, or tingling skin with no obvious or understood physical cause.

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Restless Legs
- A need to move the legs without any apparent reason.  Sometimes there is pain, twitching, jerking, cramping, burning, or a creepy-crawly sensation associated with the movements.  It worsens when a person is inactive and can interrupt one’s sleep so one feels the need to move to gain some relief.

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Shaking
- Uncontrolled quivering and trembling as if one is cold and chilled.

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Sluggishness
- Lack of alertness and energy, as well as being slow to respond or perform in life.

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Tics
- A contraction of a muscle causing a repeated movement not under the control of the person usually on the face or limbs.

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Tremor
- A nervous and involuntary vibrating or quivering of the body.

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Twitching
- Sharp, jerky and spastic motion sometimes with a sharp sudden pain.

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Vertigo
- A sensation of dizziness with disorientation and confusion.

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 Psychiatric Disorders
(Mental and emotional)

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Aggravated Nervousness
- A progressively worsening, irritated and troubled state of mind.

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Agitation
- Suddenly violent and forceful, emotionally disturbed state of mind.

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Amnesia
- Long term or short term, partial or full memory loss created by emotional or physical shock, severe illness, or a blow to the head where the person was caused pain and became unconsciousness.

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Anxiety Attack
- Sudden and intense feelings of fear, terror, and dread physically creating shortness of breath, sweating, trembling and heart palpitations.

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Apathy
- Complete lack of concern or interest for things that ordinarily would be regarded as important or would normally cause concern.

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Appetite Decreased
- Having a lack of appetite despite the ordinary caloric demands of living with a resulting unintentional loss of weight.

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Appetite Increased
- An unusual hunger causing one to overeat.

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Auditory Hallucination
- Hearing things without the voices or noises being present.

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Bruxism
- Grinding and clenching of teeth while sleeping.

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Carbohydrate Craving
- A drive and craving to eat foods rich in sugar and starches (sweets, snacks and junk foods) that intensifies as the diet becomes more and more unbalanced due to the unbalancing of the proper nutritional requirements of the body.

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Concentration Impaired
- Unable to easily focus your attention for long periods of time.

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Confusion
- Not able to think clearly and understand in order to make a logical decision.

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Crying Abnormal
- Unusual and not normal fits of weeping for short or long periods of time for no apparent reason.

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Depersonalization
- A condition where one has lost a normal sense of personal identity.

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Depression
- A hopeless feeling of failure, loss and sadness that can deteriorate into thoughts of death.

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Disorientation
- A loss of sense of direction, place, time or surroundings as well as mental confusion on personal identity.

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Dreaming Abnormal
- Dreaming that leaves a very clear, detailed picture and impression when awake that can last for a long period of time and sometimes be unpleasant.

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Emotional Lability
- Suddenly breaking out in laughter or crying or doing both without being able to control the outburst of emotion.  These episodes are unstable as they are caused by things that normally would not have this effect on an individual.

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Excitability
- Uncontrollably responding to stimuli.

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Feeling Unreal
- The awareness that one has an undesirable emotion like fear but can’t seem to shake off the irrational feeling.  For example, feeling like one is going crazy but rationally knowing that it is not true.  The quality of this side effect resembles being in a bad dream and not being able to wake up.

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Forgetfulness
- Unable to remember what one ordinarily would remember.

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Insomnia
- Sleeplessness caused by physical stress, mental stress or stimulants such as coffee or medications; it is a condition of being abnormally awake when one would ordinarily be able to fall and remain asleep.

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Irritability
- Abnormally annoyed in response to a stimulus.

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Jitteriness
- Nervous fidgeting without an apparent cause.

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Lethargy
- Mental and physical sluggishness and apathy that can deteriorate into an unconscious state resembling deep sleep.  A numbed state of mind.

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Libido Decreased
- An abnormal loss of sexual energy or desire.

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Panic Reaction
- A sudden, overpowering, chaotic and confused mental state of terror resulting in being doubt ridden often accompanied with hyperventilation, and extreme anxiety.

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Restlessness Aggravated
- A constantly worsening troubled state of mind characterized by the person being increasingly nervous, unable to relax, and easily angered.

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Somnolence
- Feeling sleepy all the time or having a condition of semi-consciousness.

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Suicide Attempt
- An unsuccessful deliberate attack on one’s own life with the intention of ending it.

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Suicidal Tendency
- Most likely will attempt to kill oneself.

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Tremulousness Nervous
- Very jumpy, shaky, and uneasy while feeling fearful and timid.  The condition is characterized by thoughts of dreading the future, involuntary quivering, trembling, and feeling distressed and suddenly upset.

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Yawning
- involuntary opening of the mouth with deep inhalation of air.

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Reproductive Disorder Female

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Breast Neoplasm - A tumor or cancer, of either of the two milk-secreting organs on the chest of a woman. 

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Menorrhagia - Abnormally heavy menstrual period or a menstrual flow that has continued for an unusually long period of time.

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Menstrual Cramps - Painful, involuntary uterus contractions that women experience around the time of their menstrual period, sometimes causing pain in the lower back and thighs.

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Menstrual Disorder - A disturbance or derangement in the normal function of a woman’s menstrual period.

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Pelvic Inflammation - The reaction of the body to infectious, allergic, or chemical irritation, which in turn causes tissue irritation, injury, or bacterial infection characterized by pain, redness, swelling, and sometimes loss of function. The reaction usually begins in the uterus and spreads to the fallopian tubes, ovaries, and other areas in the hipbone region of the body.

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Premenstrual Syndrome - Various physical and mental symptoms commonly experienced by women of childbearing age usually 2 to 7 days before the start of their monthly period.  There are over 150 symptoms including eating binges, behavioral changes, moodiness, irritability, fatigue, fluid retention, breast tenderness, headaches, bloating, anxiety, and depression.  The symptoms cease shortly after the period begins, and disappear with menopause.

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Spotting Between Menses - Abnormal bleeding between periods.  Unusual spotting between menstrual cycles.

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RESPIRATORY SYSTEM (Organs involved in breathing)

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Asthma - A disease of the breathing system initiated by and allergic reaction or a chemical with repeated attacks of coughing, sticky mucus, wheezing, shortness of breath, and a tight feeling in the chest.  The disease can reach a state where it stops a person from exhaling, leading to unconsciousness and death.

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Breath Shortness - Unnatural breathing using a lot off effort resulting in not enough air taken in by the body.

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Bronchitis - Inflammation of the two main breathing tubes leading from the windpipe to the lungs.  The disease is marked with coughing, a low-grade fever, chest pains, and hoarseness, caused by an allergic reaction.

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Coughing - A cough is the response to an irritation, such as mucus, that causes the muscles controlling the breathing process to expel air from the lungs suddenly and noisily to keep the air passages free from the irritating material.

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Laryngitis - Inflammation of the voice box characterized by hoarseness, sore throat, and coughing.  It can be cause by straining the voice or exposure to infectious, allergic or chemical irritation.

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Nasal Congestion - The presence of an abnormal amount of fluid in the nose.

Lexapro side effects
 
Pneumonia Tracheitis - Bacterial infection of the air passageways and lungs that causes redness, swelling and pain in the windpipe.  Other symptoms are high fever, chills, pain in the chest, difficulty in breathing, and coughing with mucus discharge.

Lexapro side effects
 
Rhinitis - Chemical irritation causing pain, redness and swelling in the mucus membranes of the nose.

Lexapro side effects
 
Sinus Congestion - The mucus-lined areas of the bones in the face that are thought to help warm and moisten air to the nose.  These areas become clogged with excess fluid or infected.

Lexapro side effects
 
Sinus Headache - The abnormal amount of fluid in the hollows of the face bone area especially around the nose.  This excess fluid creates pressure, causing pain in the head.

Lexapro side effects
 
Sinusitis - The body reacting to chemical irritation causing redness, swelling and pain in the area of the hollows in the facial bones especially around the nose.

Lexapro side effects
 
SKELETAL

Lexapro side effects
 
Neck/Shoulder Pain -
Hurtful sensations of the nerve endings caused by damage to the tissues in the neck and shoulder signaling danger of disease.

Lexapro side effects
 
SKIN and APPENDAGES DISORDERS (Skin, legs and arms)

Lexapro side effects
 
Acne - Eruptions of the oils glands of the skin, especially on the face, marked by pimples, blackheads, whiteheads, bumps, and more severely, by cysts and scarring.

Lexapro side effects
 
Alopecia -
The loss of hair or baldness.

Lexapro side effects
 
Eczema - A severe or continuing skin disease marked by redness, crusting and scaling with watery blisters and itching.  It is often difficult to treat and will sometimes go away only to reappear again.

Lexapro side effects
 
Dermatitis - Generally irritated skin that can be caused by any of a number of irritating things such as parasites, fungus, bacteria, or foreign substances causing an allergic reaction.  It is a general inflammation of the skin.

Lexapro side effects
 
Dry Lips - The lack of normal moisture in the fleshy folds that surround the mouth.

Lexapro side effects
 
Dry Skin
- The lack of normal moisture/oils in the surface layer of the body.  The skin is the body’s largest organ.

 

Lexapro side effects
 
Folliculitis
- Inflammation of a follicle (small body sac) especially a hair follicle.  A hair follicle contains the root of a hair.

 

Lexapro side effects
 
Furunculosis
- Skin boils that show up repeatedly.

 

Lexapro side effects
 
Lipoma
- A tumor of mostly fat cells that is not health endangering.

 

Lexapro side effects
 
Pruritus
- Extreme itching of often-undamaged skin.

 

Lexapro side effects
 
Rash
- A skin eruption or discoloration that may or may not be itching, tingling, burning, or painful.  It may be caused by an allergy, an skin irritation, a skin disease.

 

Lexapro side effects
 
Skin Nodule
- A bulge, knob, swelling or outgrowth in the skin that is a mass of tissue or cells.

 

Lexapro side effects
 
SPECIAL SENSES

 

Lexapro side effects
 
Conjunctivitis
- Infection of the membrane that covers the eyeball and lines the eyelid, caused by a virus, allergic reaction, or an irritating chemical.  It is characterized by redness, a discharge of fluid and itching.

 

Lexapro side effects
 
Dry Eyes
- Not enough moisture in the eyes.

 

Lexapro side effects
 
Earache
- Pain in the ear.

           

Lexapro side effects
 
Eye Infection
- The invasion of the eye tissue by a bacteria, virus, fungus, etc, causing damage to the tissue, with toxicity.  Infection spreading in the body progresses into disease.

 

Lexapro side effects
 
Eye Irritation
- An inflammation of the eye.

 

Lexapro side effects
 
Metallic Taste
- A range of taste impairment from distorted taste to a complete loss of taste.

 

Lexapro side effects
 
Pupils Dilated
- Abnormal expansion of the blace circular opening in the center of the eye.

 

Lexapro side effects
 
Taste alteration
- Abnormal flavor detection in food.

 

Lexapro side effects
 
Tinnitus
- A buzzing, ringing, or whistling sound in one or both ears occurring from the internal use of certain drugs.

 

Lexapro side effects
 
Vision Abnormal
- Normal images are seen differently by the viewer.

 

Lexapro side effects
 
Vision Blurred
- Eyesight is dim or indistinct and hazy in outline or appearance.

 

Lexapro side effects
 
Visual Disturbance
- Eyesight is interfered with or interrupted.  Some disturbances are light sensitivity and the inability to easily distinguish colors.

Lexapro side effects
 
URINARY SYSTEM DISORDER

Lexapro side effects
 
Blood in Urine - Blood is present when one empties liquid waste product of the kidneys through the bladder by urinating in the toilet turning the water pink to bright red.  Or you could see pots of blood in the water after urinating. 

Lexapro side effects
 
Dysuria - Difficult or painful urination.

Lexapro side effects
 
Kidney Stone - Small hard masses of salt deposits that the kidney forms.

Lexapro side effects
 
Urinary Frequency - Having to urinate more often than usual or between unusually short time periods.

Lexapro side effects
 
Urinary Tract Infection - An invasion of bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc., of the system in the body that starts with the kidneys and eliminates urine from the body.  If the invasion goes unchecked it can injure tissue and progress into disease.

Lexapro side effects
 
Urinary Urgency - A sudden compelling urge to urinate, accompanied by discomfort in the bladder.

Lexapro side effects
 
UROGENITAL (Urinary tract and genital structures or functions)

Lexapro side effects
 
Anorgasmia - Failure to experience an orgasm.

Lexapro side effects
 
Ejaculation Disorder - Dysfunction of the discharge of semen during orgasm.

Lexapro side effects
 
Menstrual Disorder - Dysfunction of the discharge during the monthly menstrual cycle.

Lexapro side effects
 
Acute Renal Failure - The kidneys stop functioning properly to excrete wastes.

 

Lexapro side effects
 
Angioedema - Intensely itching and swelling welts on the skin called hives caused by an allergic reaction to internal or external agents.  The reaction is common to a food or a drug. Chronic cases can last for a long period of time. 

Lexapro side effects
 
Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis - An abnormal condition where a large portion of skin becomes intensely red and peels off like a second-degree burn.  Often the symptoms include blistering.

Lexapro side effects
 
Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage - Stomach and intestinal excessive internal bleeding.

Lexapro side effects
 
Grand Mal Seizures (or Convulsions)
- A recurring sudden violent and involuntary attack of muscle spasms with a loss of consciousness.

Lexapro side effects
 
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome
- A life threatening, rare reaction to an anti-psychotic drug marked by fever, muscular rigidity, changed mental status, and dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system.

 

Lexapro side effects
 
Pancreatitis
- Chemical irritation with redness, swelling, and pain in the pancreas where digestive enzymes and hormones are secreted.

 

Lexapro side effects
 
QT Prolongation
- A very fast heart rhythm disturbance that is too fast for the heart to beat effectively so the blood to the brain falls causing a sudden loss of consciousness and may cause sudden cardiac death.

 

Lexapro side effects
 
Rhabdomyolysis
- The breakdown of muscle fibers that releases the fibers into the circulatory system.  Some of the fibers are poisonous to the kidney and frequently result in kidney damage.

 

Lexapro side effects
 
Serotonin Syndrome
- A disorder brought on by excessive levels of serotonin caused by drugs and can be fatal as death from this side effect can come very rapidly.

 

Lexapro side effects
 
Thrombocytopenia
- An abnormal decrease in the number of blood platelets in the circulatory system. A decrease in platelets would cause a decrease in the ability of the blood to clot when necessary.

 

Lexapro side effects
 
Torsades de Pointes
- Unusual rapid heart rhythm starting in the lower heart chambers.  If the short bursts of rapid heart rhythm continue for a prolonged period it can degenerate into a more rapid rhythm and can be fatal.

National Class Action Filed against Drug-maker for Paxil-induced Suicides in Youths


The mother of an 11-year old Wichita, Kansas boy who committed suicide on Paxil and a teenager from Pflugerville, Texas (a small town outside of Austin) who attempted suicide while taking Paxil, jointly filed a national class action lawsuit today in federal court in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the hometown of Paxil-maker, Glaxo SmithKline. The two plaintiffs theoretically represent all individuals under the age of 18 in the United States who attempted suicide or the families of individuals who killed themselves as a result of an adverse reaction to Paxil. The complaint charges include fraud, negligence, strict liability and breach of warranty. (See attached Lawsuit Allegations.)

The FDA has required all antidepressant manufacturers to place a black box warning in their labels alerting physicians and patients to the increased risk of suicidality, which went into effect in January 2005.

The Plaintiffs

11-year-old Trevor Blain was prescribed Paxil for “separation anxiety disorder” by his pediatrician in October 2000. He immediately began having difficulty sleeping and had angry outbursts while on Paxil, but his family did not make the connection between his deteriorating behavior and the drug. He continued taking the medication as prescribed. In early November 2000, Trevor hanged himself with his dog’s leash in the family laundry room. Although he survived the suicide attempt, he remained comatose for several weeks and died on December 7, 2000.

17-year-old Tonya Brooks was a shy high school student. Her family doctor diagnosed her with “social anxiety disorder” and prescribed Paxil in 2004. She became agitated, aggressive and had difficulty sleeping while taking Paxil. She first attempted suicide by taking an overdose of Paxil and a sleeping medication, Ambien. She survived the attempt and two days later gouged a hole in her leg with a pair of scissors. She was hospitalized for several days.

Tonya is one of six youths featured in a new documentary film entitled “Prescription: Suicide?” The film will be screened at the upcoming Beverly Hills Film Festival on April 8, 2006. The documentary takes an intimate look at children and teens who have committed suicide or attempted suicide while taking antidepressants and the impact these tragic events have had on their families. Tonya's mother, Cheryl Brooks stated: “No parent should have to go through what we did.” Explaining her horror when she found her daughter sprawled on the bathroom floor after her suicide attempt, Mrs. Brooks stated: "[T]here was blood everywhere.... [The manufacturers of these drugs] should be paying for this. They gave these medicines to these kids - that's murder...”

Baum Hedlund partner, Karen Barth Menzies, stated regarding the lawsuit: “Through our Paxil litigation, we've obtained documents that show a seriously troubling mentality of profit over safety and a callous disregard for the welfare of children. That’s about as reprehensible as you can get. Governmental regulators around the world have now analyzed the actual data from the clinical trials, not GSK’s version of it, and have found an increased risk of suicidality. Yet the drug companies and their hired mouthpieces in the medical academic community, including the pediatric arm of the APA [American Psychiatric Association], continue to downplay the Black Box Warning as an “over-reaction” by FDA. They continue to try to hide this risk from parents for the sake of profits. We wanted to make sure the rights of all of these kids are protected by filing this lawsuit.”

The Lawsuit’s Allegations

• Paxil was introduced into the U.S. market on December 29, 1992, and is a well known antidepressant medication in the same class as Prozac, Zoloft, Effexor, Celexa and Lexapro (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or "SSRI’s”). Paxil is approved for marketing in the United States for conditions such as depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, and “social anxiety disorder.” It is not approved for pediatric use.

• Although a number of clinical trials have been conducted in the pediatric population, Paxil has never been approved by the FDA for use in children/adolescents because the studies show that the drug doesn’t work. (¶ 18.)

• The studies show a more than doubling of the risk and in one study, there was a nearly 6 times increase of suicidal thoughts and behavior compared to placebo. (¶ 19.)

• Not until 2002 was it recognized that GSK had been coding suicidal behavior as “emotional lability,” thus hiding the risk. (¶ 19.)

• Notwithstanding the clinical trials which showed Paxil to be ineffective for pediatric patients and associated with an increased risk of serious, and possibly deadly, side effects, GSK engaged in a campaign to promote the use of Paxil for use with pediatric patients. (¶ 20.)

• GSK, faced with the negative results from the pediatric studies, began a campaign to reduce the negative impact of this bad study data. GSK prepared a medical journal article regarding Study 329 that was not only “ghost written,” but falsely stated that Paxil was superior to placebo among “four of the parameters,” including one which was identified as a “primary outcome measure.” In fact, GSK knew that Paxil was not found to be superior to placebo amongst any of the “primary outcome measures.” Further, the article stated that “most adverse effects were not serious,” and failed to list suicide-related events as “serious.” (¶ 20.)

• In a document directed to “all sales representatives selling Paxil,” a GSK manager stated that, according to the “Keller” article, “Paxil demonstrates REMARKABLE Efficacy and Safety in the treatment of adolescent depression.” (emphasis in original). The document states that “the findings of this study provide evidence of the efficacy and safety of Paxil in the treatment of adolescent depression.” As GSK well knew, study 329 found Paxil to be neither effective nor safe. (¶ 20.)

• GSK also hired doctors to go around the world and promote the use of Paxil for pediatric patients by way of “posters” and lectures at medical conferences. These “posters” and their presenters claimed that Paxil was effective for treating adolescent depression and free from serious side effects. In fact, GSK knew that to be false. (¶ 21.)

• In internal, unpublished documents, which have been kept from public and regulatory scrutiny via the stratagem of over-broad “confidentiality” designations, GSK has made numerous admissions about Paxil’s as