'Warning signal' for Efexor, as Anti-depressant's link to suicide

[Guest guest]

Anti-depressant's link to suicide

'Warning signal' for Efexor, though maker says study does not allow

for severity of in-patients' illness

Carvel, social affairs editor

Friday August 20, 2004

The Guardian

Statisticians warned yesterday that an increasingly popular range of

antidepressants is associated with growing numbers of suicides and

accidental fatal overdoses.

The Office for National Statistics has surveyed the fatal toxicity

of all antidepressants over 10 years, based on data in coroners'

reports in England and Wales.

The government agency's survey found that deaths associated with

venlafaxine, a drug sold in the UK under the brandname Efexor by

Wyeth, a US pharmaceutical giant, were equivalent to 8.5 for every

million prescriptions since its launch in 1995.

The drug, known as a serotonin and noradrenaline re-uptake inhibitor

(SNRI), is more powerful than the family of drugs including Prozac

and Seroxat that are known as selective serotonin re-uptake

inhibitor (SSRI). It is most commonly prescribed for psychiatric

inpatients.

The agency said deaths associated with Efexor were a lot more than

the SSRIs, which averaged one death for every million, but less than

the tricyclic family of antidepressants including dothiepin and

amitriptyline, which averaged 43.1 for every million.

Its concern was based on annual figures showing deaths associated

with Efexor are on a rising trend, while the figures for rival drugs

are falling. " You could interpret this as a warning signal, " an

official said. An article in the ONS publication Health Statistics

Quarterly said: " Encouragingly, for SSRIs there has been little

change in mortality per million prescription items, despite the very

large increase in their usage. " It associated the higher mortality

figures for Efexor with its greater toxicity.

Despite this apparent danger, it is understood that the National

Institute of Clinical Excellence is preparing to give its seal of

approval to Efexor. Paradoxically, the Medicines and Healthcare

Products Regulatory Agency is close to completing a review of the

safety and efficacy of SSRIs, including the bestselling Seroxat, and

is expected to impose restrictions on their use.

Since 1995, Efexor has built up an annual turnover of £125m. It

sells about 2m prescriptions a year, and is gaining a rising share

of the total market of 26.3m prescriptions.

A spokeswoman for Wyeth said: " These figures of deaths per million

do not take into account the severity of the condition of people

being treated, or the fact that patients being given Efexor have

often failed on other antidepressants.

" Patients who are severely ill are being treated on this drug and

that is why the figures are higher. "

Celia Feetam, the immediate past chairman of the UK Psychiatric

Pharmacy Group, said: " These statistics are not surprising.

Venlafaxine is an effective antidepressant, and, as such, its use is

likely to increase. However, there are effective alternatives

available for the treatment of mild to moderate depression, which

are safer in overdose and which should be used in preference as

firstline treatment.

" It is important to acknowledge the toxicity of venlafaxine in

overdose, and it should be used only with caution in those patients

who may be at risk of self-harming and who are not under specialist

care. "

Sophie Corlett, director of policy at Mind, the mental health

charity, said: " Efexor is a relatively new antidepressant, and so

reports of adverse side-effects have only recently begun to emerge.

Mind has been aware for some time of reports from mental health

service users of quite debilitating side-effects, ranging from

dizziness and nausea to severe headaches, and dependency problems.

Although on the whole Efexor has a better reputation than other

antidepressants, in a recent survey almost half of respondents

reported difficulties when coming off the drug or in reducing its

dose.

" It is important to remember that the effectiveness of

antidepressants can vary enormously from individual to individual -

some will take Efexor and feel that it has made an important

positive difference to their lives.

" However that is certainly not always the case, and questions still

remain over the links between certain pharmaceuticals and possible

increased suicidal feelings.

" It is therefore vital both that alternative non-drug therapies are

explored for less serious cases of depression, and that, where drug

treatment is the only realistic option, those drugs are rigorously

tested and regulated.

" Anyone taking antidepressants who has concerns should consult their

doctor. On no account should they simply stop taking the medicine. "

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1286969,00.html

[Guest guest]

Anti-depressant's link to suicide

'Warning signal' for Efexor, though maker says study does not allow

for severity of in-patients' illness

Carvel, social affairs editor

Friday August 20, 2004

The Guardian

Statisticians warned yesterday that an increasingly popular range of

antidepressants is associated with growing numbers of suicides and

accidental fatal overdoses.

The Office for National Statistics has surveyed the fatal toxicity

of all antidepressants over 10 years, based on data in coroners'

reports in England and Wales.

The government agency's survey found that deaths associated with

venlafaxine, a drug sold in the UK under the brandname Efexor by

Wyeth, a US pharmaceutical giant, were equivalent to 8.5 for every

million prescriptions since its launch in 1995.

The drug, known as a serotonin and noradrenaline re-uptake inhibitor

(SNRI), is more powerful than the family of drugs including Prozac

and Seroxat that are known as selective serotonin re-uptake

inhibitor (SSRI). It is most commonly prescribed for psychiatric

inpatients.

The agency said deaths associated with Efexor were a lot more than

the SSRIs, which averaged one death for every million, but less than

the tricyclic family of antidepressants including dothiepin and

amitriptyline, which averaged 43.1 for every million.

Its concern was based on annual figures showing deaths associated

with Efexor are on a rising trend, while the figures for rival drugs

are falling. " You could interpret this as a warning signal, " an

official said. An article in the ONS publication Health Statistics

Quarterly said: " Encouragingly, for SSRIs there has been little

change in mortality per million prescription items, despite the very

large increase in their usage. " It associated the higher mortality

figures for Efexor with its greater toxicity.

Despite this apparent danger, it is understood that the National

Institute of Clinical Excellence is preparing to give its seal of

approval to Efexor. Paradoxically, the Medicines and Healthcare

Products Regulatory Agency is close to completing a review of the

safety and efficacy of SSRIs, including the bestselling Seroxat, and

is expected to impose restrictions on their use.

Since 1995, Efexor has built up an annual turnover of £125m. It

sells about 2m prescriptions a year, and is gaining a rising share

of the total market of 26.3m prescriptions.

A spokeswoman for Wyeth said: " These figures of deaths per million

do not take into account the severity of the condition of people

being treated, or the fact that patients being given Efexor have

often failed on other antidepressants.

" Patients who are severely ill are being treated on this drug and

that is why the figures are higher. "

Celia Feetam, the immediate past chairman of the UK Psychiatric

Pharmacy Group, said: " These statistics are not surprising.

Venlafaxine is an effective antidepressant, and, as such, its use is

likely to increase. However, there are effective alternatives

available for the treatment of mild to moderate depression, which

are safer in overdose and which should be used in preference as

firstline treatment.

" It is important to acknowledge the toxicity of venlafaxine in

overdose, and it should be used only with caution in those patients

who may be at risk of self-harming and who are not under specialist

care. "

Sophie Corlett, director of policy at Mind, the mental health

charity, said: " Efexor is a relatively new antidepressant, and so

reports of adverse side-effects have only recently begun to emerge.

Mind has been aware for some time of reports from mental health

service users of quite debilitating side-effects, ranging from

dizziness and nausea to severe headaches, and dependency problems.

Although on the whole Efexor has a better reputation than other

antidepressants, in a recent survey almost half of respondents

reported difficulties when coming off the drug or in reducing its

dose.

" It is important to remember that the effectiveness of

antidepressants can vary enormously from individual to individual -

some will take Efexor and feel that it has made an important

positive difference to their lives.

" However that is certainly not always the case, and questions still

remain over the links between certain pharmaceuticals and possible

increased suicidal feelings.

" It is therefore vital both that alternative non-drug therapies are

explored for less serious cases of depression, and that, where drug

treatment is the only realistic option, those drugs are rigorously

tested and regulated.

" Anyone taking antidepressants who has concerns should consult their

doctor. On no account should they simply stop taking the medicine. "

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1286969,00.html

[Guest guest]

THIS IS UNREAL!

The doctor who saw our son prescribed Effexor after spending only a few minutes

with him.

Effexor was prescribed as his first medication for treatment of depression, even

though he exhibited signs of bipolar disorder - extreme highs followed by low

periods when he was easily upset and very pessimistic.

After putting him on this obviously strong, often last resort medication,

neither his doctor nor his counsellor followed-up when he failed to return for

any more appointments.

Even after we called to inform them that he was having difficulty with the

effects of this drug, they refused to get involved and in effect told us it was

none of our business as he was 21 years old.

We feel that we most want to hold these people accountable for their

maltreatment of him. If only they has acted responsibly, he might still be with

us instead of us facing the 1st anniversary of his death on September 3.

and Terry Bearden

ch_isp_morse <cuan.digital.image@...> wrote:

Anti-depressant's link to suicide

'Warning signal' for Efexor, though maker says study does not allow

for severity of in-patients' illness

Carvel, social affairs editor

Friday August 20, 2004

The Guardian

Statisticians warned yesterday that an increasingly popular range of

antidepressants is associated with growing numbers of suicides and

accidental fatal overdoses.

The Office for National Statistics has surveyed the fatal toxicity

of all antidepressants over 10 years, based on data in coroners'

reports in England and Wales.

The government agency's survey found that deaths associated with

venlafaxine, a drug sold in the UK under the brandname Efexor by

Wyeth, a US pharmaceutical giant, were equivalent to 8.5 for every

million prescriptions since its launch in 1995.

The drug, known as a serotonin and noradrenaline re-uptake inhibitor

(SNRI), is more powerful than the family of drugs including Prozac

and Seroxat that are known as selective serotonin re-uptake

inhibitor (SSRI). It is most commonly prescribed for psychiatric

inpatients.

The agency said deaths associated with Efexor were a lot more than

the SSRIs, which averaged one death for every million, but less than

the tricyclic family of antidepressants including dothiepin and

amitriptyline, which averaged 43.1 for every million.

Its concern was based on annual figures showing deaths associated

with Efexor are on a rising trend, while the figures for rival drugs

are falling. " You could interpret this as a warning signal, " an

official said. An article in the ONS publication Health Statistics

Quarterly said: " Encouragingly, for SSRIs there has been little

change in mortality per million prescription items, despite the very

large increase in their usage. " It associated the higher mortality

figures for Efexor with its greater toxicity.

Despite this apparent danger, it is understood that the National

Institute of Clinical Excellence is preparing to give its seal of

approval to Efexor. Paradoxically, the Medicines and Healthcare

Products Regulatory Agency is close to completing a review of the

safety and efficacy of SSRIs, including the bestselling Seroxat, and

is expected to impose restrictions on their use.

Since 1995, Efexor has built up an annual turnover of £125m. It

sells about 2m prescriptions a year, and is gaining a rising share

of the total market of 26.3m prescriptions.

A spokeswoman for Wyeth said: " These figures of deaths per million

do not take into account the severity of the condition of people

being treated, or the fact that patients being given Efexor have

often failed on other antidepressants.

" Patients who are severely ill are being treated on this drug and

that is why the figures are higher. "

Celia Feetam, the immediate past chairman of the UK Psychiatric

Pharmacy Group, said: " These statistics are not surprising.

Venlafaxine is an effective antidepressant, and, as such, its use is

likely to increase. However, there are effective alternatives

available for the treatment of mild to moderate depression, which

are safer in overdose and which should be used in preference as

firstline treatment.

" It is important to acknowledge the toxicity of venlafaxine in

overdose, and it should be used only with caution in those patients

who may be at risk of self-harming and who are not under specialist

care. "

Sophie Corlett, director of policy at Mind, the mental health

charity, said: " Efexor is a relatively new antidepressant, and so

reports of adverse side-effects have only recently begun to emerge.

Mind has been aware for some time of reports from mental health

service users of quite debilitating side-effects, ranging from

dizziness and nausea to severe headaches, and dependency problems.

Although on the whole Efexor has a better reputation than other

antidepressants, in a recent survey almost half of respondents

reported difficulties when coming off the drug or in reducing its

dose.

" It is important to remember that the effectiveness of

antidepressants can vary enormously from individual to individual -

some will take Efexor and feel that it has made an important

positive difference to their lives.

" However that is certainly not always the case, and questions still

remain over the links between certain pharmaceuticals and possible

increased suicidal feelings.

" It is therefore vital both that alternative non-drug therapies are

explored for less serious cases of depression, and that, where drug

treatment is the only realistic option, those drugs are rigorously

tested and regulated.

" Anyone taking antidepressants who has concerns should consult their

doctor. On no account should they simply stop taking the medicine. "

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1286969,00.html

[Guest guest]

THIS IS UNREAL!

The doctor who saw our son prescribed Effexor after spending only a few minutes

with him.

Effexor was prescribed as his first medication for treatment of depression, even

though he exhibited signs of bipolar disorder - extreme highs followed by low

periods when he was easily upset and very pessimistic.

After putting him on this obviously strong, often last resort medication,

neither his doctor nor his counsellor followed-up when he failed to return for

any more appointments.

Even after we called to inform them that he was having difficulty with the

effects of this drug, they refused to get involved and in effect told us it was

none of our business as he was 21 years old.

We feel that we most want to hold these people accountable for their

maltreatment of him. If only they has acted responsibly, he might still be with

us instead of us facing the 1st anniversary of his death on September 3.

and Terry Bearden

ch_isp_morse <cuan.digital.image@...> wrote:

Anti-depressant's link to suicide

'Warning signal' for Efexor, though maker says study does not allow

for severity of in-patients' illness

Carvel, social affairs editor

Friday August 20, 2004

The Guardian

Statisticians warned yesterday that an increasingly popular range of

antidepressants is associated with growing numbers of suicides and

accidental fatal overdoses.

The Office for National Statistics has surveyed the fatal toxicity

of all antidepressants over 10 years, based on data in coroners'

reports in England and Wales.

The government agency's survey found that deaths associated with

venlafaxine, a drug sold in the UK under the brandname Efexor by

Wyeth, a US pharmaceutical giant, were equivalent to 8.5 for every

million prescriptions since its launch in 1995.

The drug, known as a serotonin and noradrenaline re-uptake inhibitor

(SNRI), is more powerful than the family of drugs including Prozac

and Seroxat that are known as selective serotonin re-uptake

inhibitor (SSRI). It is most commonly prescribed for psychiatric

inpatients.

The agency said deaths associated with Efexor were a lot more than

the SSRIs, which averaged one death for every million, but less than

the tricyclic family of antidepressants including dothiepin and

amitriptyline, which averaged 43.1 for every million.

Its concern was based on annual figures showing deaths associated

with Efexor are on a rising trend, while the figures for rival drugs

are falling. " You could interpret this as a warning signal, " an

official said. An article in the ONS publication Health Statistics

Quarterly said: " Encouragingly, for SSRIs there has been little

change in mortality per million prescription items, despite the very

large increase in their usage. " It associated the higher mortality

figures for Efexor with its greater toxicity.

Despite this apparent danger, it is understood that the National

Institute of Clinical Excellence is preparing to give its seal of

approval to Efexor. Paradoxically, the Medicines and Healthcare

Products Regulatory Agency is close to completing a review of the

safety and efficacy of SSRIs, including the bestselling Seroxat, and

is expected to impose restrictions on their use.

Since 1995, Efexor has built up an annual turnover of £125m. It

sells about 2m prescriptions a year, and is gaining a rising share

of the total market of 26.3m prescriptions.

A spokeswoman for Wyeth said: " These figures of deaths per million

do not take into account the severity of the condition of people

being treated, or the fact that patients being given Efexor have

often failed on other antidepressants.

" Patients who are severely ill are being treated on this drug and

that is why the figures are higher. "

Celia Feetam, the immediate past chairman of the UK Psychiatric

Pharmacy Group, said: " These statistics are not surprising.

Venlafaxine is an effective antidepressant, and, as such, its use is

likely to increase. However, there are effective alternatives

available for the treatment of mild to moderate depression, which

are safer in overdose and which should be used in preference as

firstline treatment.

" It is important to acknowledge the toxicity of venlafaxine in

overdose, and it should be used only with caution in those patients

who may be at risk of self-harming and who are not under specialist

care. "

Sophie Corlett, director of policy at Mind, the mental health

charity, said: " Efexor is a relatively new antidepressant, and so

reports of adverse side-effects have only recently begun to emerge.

Mind has been aware for some time of reports from mental health

service users of quite debilitating side-effects, ranging from

dizziness and nausea to severe headaches, and dependency problems.

Although on the whole Efexor has a better reputation than other

antidepressants, in a recent survey almost half of respondents

reported difficulties when coming off the drug or in reducing its

dose.

" It is important to remember that the effectiveness of

antidepressants can vary enormously from individual to individual -

some will take Efexor and feel that it has made an important

positive difference to their lives.

" However that is certainly not always the case, and questions still

remain over the links between certain pharmaceuticals and possible

increased suicidal feelings.

" It is therefore vital both that alternative non-drug therapies are

explored for less serious cases of depression, and that, where drug

treatment is the only realistic option, those drugs are rigorously

tested and regulated.

" Anyone taking antidepressants who has concerns should consult their

doctor. On no account should they simply stop taking the medicine. "

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1286969,00.html