Suit Settled in Death of Boy (Effexor)

[Delynbetter]

from: Suit Settled in Death of Boy

source: Omaha World-Herald, August 18, 2006.

via: HighBeam™ Research

Copyright 2006 Omaha World-Herald

Aug. 18--A lawsuit filed by the parents of an 11-year-old Omaha boy who killed himself after taking antidepressants has been settled out of court.

David and Debra Jackson alleged that the 2002 suicide of their son Jacob was the result of side effects from the drugs Zoloft and Effexor.

Terms of the Aug. 4 settlement are confidential.

Prozac is the only medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treating pediatric depression. It is legal, however, for doctors to prescribe adult medications to children and adolescents.

The lawsuit alleged that Pfizer Inc., the maker of Zoloft, failed to adequately test, evaluate and study the pediatric effects of Zoloft before marketing it to the public.

Also named as defendants were Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, which makes Effexor; Sharon S. Cannon, Ph.D.; Dr. Michelle M. Cassidy of Children's Hospital; and Dr. Michael L. Coy of Alegent Health-Immanuel Medical Center.

Spokesmen for the defendants declined to comment on the settlement.

Attorney Andrew Hilger, who represented the Jacksons, said he hoped "the lawsuit raised awareness among parents" and encouraged them to raise more questions before placing their children on behavior-altering drugs.

Hilger said Jacob began taking Zoloft on Sept. 9, 2002, on a doctor's recommendation.

The boy's behavior worsened, with intensified agitation and suicidal desires, the lawsuit said. Jacob's Zoloft dosage was increased three times between Sept. 17, 2002, and Oct. 2, 2002, on the advice of the three doctors, the lawsuit said.

On or about Oct. 8, one of the doctors advised a gradual decrease of the Zoloft dosage and prescribed Effexor, the lawsuit said.

Two days later, Jacob was found dead in his basement, having hanged himself.

In 2004, the FDA's medical advisory group decided that antidepressants should come with a "black box warning" that they can "spur suicidal behavior in children and teenagers."

Hilger argued that Nebraska law requires suicide risk warnings in addition to those given by the FDA.

U.S. District Judge Joseph Bataillon rejected arguments by lawyers for the drug companies that state law cannot pre-empt FDA regulations.

[scotty]

Originally Posted by Delynbetter

U.S. District Judge Joseph Bataillon rejected arguments by lawyers for the drug companies that state law cannot pre-empt FDA regulations.

How sad... But good for the judge for not allowing pharma to get away with this, due to a corrupt loophole!!!

[Charlie]

Not to be cruel but doesn't it seem like a lot of these suicides are from hanging?

[rdjanis]

Absolutely, especially with the kids. I have discussed this before, my thoughts are a common way of suicide in movies, books etc. are hanging and jumping..... I believe the thought process is there and is why it is the route chosen. IMO anyways

[Charlie]

I didn't know if it was just my thinking or not. I know they tend to be extremely violent.

[scotty]

it's the violent nature of the suicides that always stood out to me. At the FDA hearings the most common were hangings and stabbings. Not the "normal" suicides(not that any suicide is normal) that you would think a child would come up with. Very few overdoses, which IMO would be more common and less violent. The whole thing makes no sense at all.

[rdjanis]

About 20/25 years ago a very good friend of the family hung himself. His wife had a blood transfusion and ended up with HIV. When she died he fell apart and hung himself... shortly after seeing a psychiatrist. If only I knew then what I know now.... he left two young children behind to find him, very sad!!

[Iksfreundin]

Think about it... You're a kid, what methods of suicide do you truly have? How ridiculously sad. Money does NOT replace a child. My heart aches for this family.