Paxil / Seroxat withdrawal class action suits USA - so in reality how many people took on GSK say in California ? ---- answer = Thirty five

August 25, 2001 Posted: 8:09 AM EDT (1209 GMT)


http://edition.cnn.com/2001/HEALTH/08/25/paxil.suit/

LOS ANGELES (CNN) -- Thirty-five people who say they suffered from "severe withdrawal reactions" after taking the anti-depressant Paxil filed a class-action complaint against the drug's maker Friday in California Superior Court.
The complaint against pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline, which produces Paxil, alleges that the drug "is more addictive" and "has a greater tendency to induce physical and physiological dependency" than other anti-depressants.
Paxil, which was introduced to the U.S. market in December of 1992, is one of several anti-depressants classified as a selective seratonin reuptake inhibitor, or an S.S.R.I. drug. Other well known S.S.R.I. drugs are Prozac, which is manufactured by Eli Lilly; and Zoloft, made by Pfizer.
A section of the complaint charges that "GlaxoSmithKline has known for years the distinct characteristics of Paxil which make it prone to cause withdrawal reactions when discontinued."
The lawsuit was filed by Karen Barth in association with Mary Schiavo of Baum, Hedlund, Aristei, Guilford & Schiavo. The plaintiffs are seeking unspecified damages along with attorney's fees.
A U.S.-based spokeswoman for GSK, which has its headquarters in London, said the company does not have a statement at this time