Paxil suit settled by Glaxo for $40 million

scotty · 10-01-2008, 08:47 PM

http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle...3aPc:_Yyc:aUUJ

Paxil suit settled by Glaxo for $40 million
Health plans that paid for kids and adolescents to get the antidepressant had sued the drugmaker.

By JOSEPHINE MARCOTTY, Star Tribune

Last update: October 1, 2008 - 9:37 PM

Paxil suit settled by Glaxo for $40 million
Health plans that paid for kids and adolescents to get the antidepressant had sued the drugmaker.

By JOSEPHINE MARCOTTY, Star Tribune

Last update: October 1, 2008 - 9:37 PM

In a settlement approved Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline agreed to pay $40 million to reimburse health plans that paid for children and adolescents to receive the antidepressant Paxil.

The agreement brings to a close the long-standing class-action litigation against Glaxo, which was sued for allegedly withholding negative information about the safety and efficacy of Paxil for teenagers and children. In 2007, Glaxo agreed to pay $63.9 million to consumers in another class-action settlement. In both cases Glaxo did not admit wrongdoing.

The settlement this week resolves the case on behalf of some 42,000 health plans across the country that paid for the drug, said Paul Dahlberg, an attorney with Meshbesher & Spence, one of nine law firms involved in the case. A third of the settlement will be paid to the law firms.

Although Paxil is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use by children, doctors may prescribe it for them. Studies have shown that Paxil and other antidepressants in some instances lead to increased thoughts of suicide in adolescents. Last year the FDA ordered drugmakers to add a "black box" warning of the drug's risks after parents and other consumer advocates raised questions about the safety of antidepressants for those under age 18.

Under the settlement, GSK will pay insurers who paid for a Paxil prescription for use by a minor between January 1998 and December 2004. They may claim a refund of 40 percent of their actual costs of the drugs prescribed to children and adolescents diagnosed with a major depression, or 15 percent of the cost if the diagnosis was unknown.

If the settlement account is not exhausted, the unclaimed balance will be donated to nonprofits involved in mental health causes.

Josephine Marcotty • 612-673-7394

rdjanis · 10-01-2008, 09:23 PM

Always makes me happy to hear they had to pay out for what they have done... it brings me great satisfaction!!

Katesmom · 10-01-2008, 09:34 PM

So, does this mean that insurers will not cover an AD for an adolescent now?

Lilly · 10-01-2008, 10:02 PM

This payout is to the insurers only? Chelsea was on it for about 3 months in maybe 99 or 2000. Even if it is to insurers only glad to see they are paying out something.

Lilloy

eileen · 10-02-2008, 06:16 AM

I'm happy to see that they have to pay something to somebody. Perhaps this might open the way to the consumers to claim damages.
Eileen

rdjanis · 10-02-2008, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katesmom

So, does this mean that insurers will not cover an AD for an adolescent now?

Hmmm... good point. I wonder if this case would trigger that outcome.

slappyintheface · 10-02-2008, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katesmom

So, does this mean that insurers will not cover an AD for an adolescent now?

That's very scary to think about when you consider what cold turkey withdrawal or switching meds would do to thousands (possibly millions) of teens.

Homerbcool · 10-02-2008, 01:41 PM

This sounds to me as if the bank got paid for the criiminal taking their money and if there is any left over after all the banks costs, some may dribble to the victim...YUP SOUNDS LIKE OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM

sarah · 10-03-2008, 06:35 AM

$40 million dollars doesn't seem a lot when you see how much profit these bastards make every year!!

Betsy · 10-23-2008, 02:54 PM

And the lawyers get 1/3...that just adds insult to injury if you ask me....which no one did....
Betsy

Paxilalmostkilledme · 10-23-2008, 03:45 PM

Class actions normally don't equate to any serious money to individuals. Sometimes you walk away with a hundred dollars after filling out a couple hours worth of paperwork.....Usually the only ones who win are the lawyers (13 million!) and GSK no longer has to deal with this issue.

10-01-2008, 08:47 PM	#1
scotty Administrator Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: new jersey Posts: 46,992	Paxil suit settled by Glaxo for $40 million http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle...3aPc:_Yyc:aUUJ Paxil suit settled by Glaxo for $40 million Health plans that paid for kids and adolescents to get the antidepressant had sued the drugmaker. By JOSEPHINE MARCOTTY, Star Tribune Last update: October 1, 2008 - 9:37 PM Paxil suit settled by Glaxo for $40 million Health plans that paid for kids and adolescents to get the antidepressant had sued the drugmaker. By JOSEPHINE MARCOTTY, Star Tribune Last update: October 1, 2008 - 9:37 PM In a settlement approved Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline agreed to pay $40 million to reimburse health plans that paid for children and adolescents to receive the antidepressant Paxil. The agreement brings to a close the long-standing class-action litigation against Glaxo, which was sued for allegedly withholding negative information about the safety and efficacy of Paxil for teenagers and children. In 2007, Glaxo agreed to pay $63.9 million to consumers in another class-action settlement. In both cases Glaxo did not admit wrongdoing. The settlement this week resolves the case on behalf of some 42,000 health plans across the country that paid for the drug, said Paul Dahlberg, an attorney with Meshbesher & Spence, one of nine law firms involved in the case. A third of the settlement will be paid to the law firms. Although Paxil is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use by children, doctors may prescribe it for them. Studies have shown that Paxil and other antidepressants in some instances lead to increased thoughts of suicide in adolescents. Last year the FDA ordered drugmakers to add a "black box" warning of the drug's risks after parents and other consumer advocates raised questions about the safety of antidepressants for those under age 18. Under the settlement, GSK will pay insurers who paid for a Paxil prescription for use by a minor between January 1998 and December 2004. They may claim a refund of 40 percent of their actual costs of the drugs prescribed to children and adolescents diagnosed with a major depression, or 15 percent of the cost if the diagnosis was unknown. If the settlement account is not exhausted, the unclaimed balance will be donated to nonprofits involved in mental health causes. Josephine Marcotty • 612-673-7394 __________________ AKA Laurie "Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase." MLK Last edited by scotty : 10-01-2008 at 09:02 PM.

10-01-2008, 09:23 PM	#2
rdjanis "has a lavender scented keyboard" Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Ontario Posts: 22,214	Re: Paxil suit settled by Glaxo for $40 million Always makes me happy to hear they had to pay out for what they have done... it brings me great satisfaction!! __________________ Rita

10-01-2008, 09:34 PM	#3
Katesmom Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 13,812	Re: Paxil suit settled by Glaxo for $40 million So, does this mean that insurers will not cover an AD for an adolescent now? __________________ Katesmom aka Kim started Paxil Oct. 2003 for PIH Paxil free since 19 Jul 2005 ". . .the cruelest lies are often told without a word. . .the kindest truths are often spoken, never heard." -- Ben Folds

10-01-2008, 10:02 PM	#4
Lilly Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Northwest Posts: 7,188	Re: Paxil suit settled by Glaxo for $40 million This payout is to the insurers only? Chelsea was on it for about 3 months in maybe 99 or 2000. Even if it is to insurers only glad to see they are paying out something. Lilloy __________________ 1 .5 Xanax a day for one month. C/T. Same year, 3 .5 mil Xanax a day, 4 by the end. Pooped out on me. 1 1/2 years on the drug. Doctors taper. Very bad w/d. 9 months later took 10 mg Paxil and my Xanax w/d dissapeared. On 20 mg by end. Pooped out on me. C/T then restarted it again after 3 days and big blow up. 6 months taper, never feeling much better. 2 1/2 years solid w/d then sporadic stuff for 5 years. Completely recovered! Drug free since June 2001.

10-02-2008, 06:16 AM	#5
eileen Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 10,523	Re: Paxil suit settled by Glaxo for $40 million I'm happy to see that they have to pay something to somebody. Perhaps this might open the way to the consumers to claim damages. Eileen __________________ June 13/07-reducing by .05mg. every four weeks to present. October 29/08-Paxil Free 2006-Cut Trazodone from 150mg to 100mg. Sept 07/09- Trazodone 75mg. 4/10 Weaning Benzo. 12/11 Benzo Free! Started this journey of horror with AD's in 1994, Put on Paxil 30 mg in Feb/1995 I will survive!

10-02-2008, 01:41 PM	#8
Homerbcool "Infatuated with kazoobies" Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 16,757	Re: Paxil suit settled by Glaxo for $40 million This sounds to me as if the bank got paid for the criiminal taking their money and if there is any left over after all the banks costs, some may dribble to the victim...YUP SOUNDS LIKE OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM __________________ That's one of the curses of anxiety--we make possibilities into certainties.....Tim

10-03-2008, 06:35 AM	#9
sarah "Texts gerbils!" Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: UK Posts: 3,861	Re: Paxil suit settled by Glaxo for $40 million $40 million dollars doesn't seem a lot when you see how much profit these bastards make every year!! __________________ Sarah x Paxhell free since May 12th 2003.

10-23-2008, 02:54 PM	#10
Betsy Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Washington State Posts: 1,841	Re: Paxil suit settled by Glaxo for $40 million And the lawyers get 1/3...that just adds insult to injury if you ask me....which no one did.... Betsy __________________ Started at 30mgs 1997 1999 - 2004 tapered 25 to 12.5 Nov'05 10 mgs. Dec'05 tried liquid/BIG mess for me Jan'06 up to 15 mg. Mar 07 - Mar 08 10 mgs to 7.5 tiny tapers w/digital scale April 09 - approx 6.25 mgs Sep 09 beginning of crash, worst anxiety ever Dec 12 Checked into hospital on 49th birthday, There for 5 days and they did NOTHING to help I made it through the shadow of death! Now on 75 mgs zoloft "SLOW AND STEADY WINS THE RACE" ~ The Tortoise

10-23-2008, 03:45 PM	#11
Paxilalmostkilledme Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Montreal, QC Vancouver, BC Posts: 653	Re: Paxil suit settled by Glaxo for $40 million Class actions normally don't equate to any serious money to individuals. Sometimes you walk away with a hundred dollars after filling out a couple hours worth of paperwork.....Usually the only ones who win are the lawyers (13 million!) and GSK no longer has to deal with this issue. __________________ Paxil - 2000-2006 40mgs, weight gain of 50 pounds tapered for one month as I had to get off due to behavior issues. late Dec 2006....last paxil 3 months of major w/d. supplements: b-complex, mags, fish oil, 5htp, vit c "Your Mileage WILL Vary" should be stamped across every drug dispensed. Your doc shouldn't poo-poo your reaction. You live inside your body. You know what's happening in there.

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