Expert panel on anti-depressants use in children to convene Friday - Thats today

[Guest guest]

Expert panel on anti-depressants use in children to convene Friday

Canadian Press

Wednesday, February 18, 2004

ADVERTISEMENT

TORONTO (CP) - A panel of experts asked to advise Health Canada on whether

anti-depressants are safe and effective when taken by children and teenagers

will convene Friday.

The group of six experts, a scientific advisory panel looking into newer classes

of anti-depressants called selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and

serotonin/norepinephrine re-uptake inhibitors (SNRIs), will hold a two-hour

conference call to draft recommendations for the department, spokesperson Jirina

Vlk said Wednesday.

Members of the panel have been given a list of questions the department wants

answered. The panel will make recommendations, but Health Canada will make final

decisions on the issue, Vlk said.

The panel includes Dr. Jane Garland, head of the mood and anxiety disorders

clinic at the British Columbia Children's Hospital.

Garland was the author of a commentary on the drugs published in this week's

issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal. In the piece she noted the

accumulated scientific data - some of which has been suppressed by drug

companies - show these medications have " minimal to no effectiveness in

childhood depression beyond a placebo effect. "

Other members of the panel include Dr. Clive Chamberlain, a Toronto-based

adolescent suicide expert and Dr. Aidan Stokes, a child and adolescent

psychiatrist from Halifax.

A record of the meeting is expected to be drafted by the end of March.

Concern has been mounting about the use of SSRIs in children and teens. The

drugs are known to induce suicidal thought and actions in a small proportion of

users.

Earlier this month Health Canada issued an advisory cautioning that anyone under

the age of 18 using these medications should consult their doctor to see if the

benefits outweighed the risk. The drugs listed were: citalopram, sold as Celexa;

fluoxetine or Prozac; fluvoxamine or Luvox; mirtazapine or Remeron; paroxetine

or Paxil; sertraline or Zoloft and venlaflaxine or Effexor.

© Copyright 2004 The Canadian Press

Jim - Norman

" Never look at the trombones, it only encourages them. "

Strauss

[Guest guest]

Expert panel on anti-depressants use in children to convene Friday

Canadian Press

Wednesday, February 18, 2004

ADVERTISEMENT

TORONTO (CP) - A panel of experts asked to advise Health Canada on whether

anti-depressants are safe and effective when taken by children and teenagers

will convene Friday.

The group of six experts, a scientific advisory panel looking into newer classes

of anti-depressants called selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and

serotonin/norepinephrine re-uptake inhibitors (SNRIs), will hold a two-hour

conference call to draft recommendations for the department, spokesperson Jirina

Vlk said Wednesday.

Members of the panel have been given a list of questions the department wants

answered. The panel will make recommendations, but Health Canada will make final

decisions on the issue, Vlk said.

The panel includes Dr. Jane Garland, head of the mood and anxiety disorders

clinic at the British Columbia Children's Hospital.

Garland was the author of a commentary on the drugs published in this week's

issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal. In the piece she noted the

accumulated scientific data - some of which has been suppressed by drug

companies - show these medications have " minimal to no effectiveness in

childhood depression beyond a placebo effect. "

Other members of the panel include Dr. Clive Chamberlain, a Toronto-based

adolescent suicide expert and Dr. Aidan Stokes, a child and adolescent

psychiatrist from Halifax.

A record of the meeting is expected to be drafted by the end of March.

Concern has been mounting about the use of SSRIs in children and teens. The

drugs are known to induce suicidal thought and actions in a small proportion of

users.

Earlier this month Health Canada issued an advisory cautioning that anyone under

the age of 18 using these medications should consult their doctor to see if the

benefits outweighed the risk. The drugs listed were: citalopram, sold as Celexa;

fluoxetine or Prozac; fluvoxamine or Luvox; mirtazapine or Remeron; paroxetine

or Paxil; sertraline or Zoloft and venlaflaxine or Effexor.

© Copyright 2004 The Canadian Press

Jim - Norman

" Never look at the trombones, it only encourages them. "

Strauss

[Guest guest]

Expert panel on anti-depressants use in children to convene Friday

Canadian Press

Wednesday, February 18, 2004

ADVERTISEMENT

TORONTO (CP) - A panel of experts asked to advise Health Canada on whether

anti-depressants are safe and effective when taken by children and teenagers

will convene Friday.

The group of six experts, a scientific advisory panel looking into newer classes

of anti-depressants called selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and

serotonin/norepinephrine re-uptake inhibitors (SNRIs), will hold a two-hour

conference call to draft recommendations for the department, spokesperson Jirina

Vlk said Wednesday.

Members of the panel have been given a list of questions the department wants

answered. The panel will make recommendations, but Health Canada will make final

decisions on the issue, Vlk said.

The panel includes Dr. Jane Garland, head of the mood and anxiety disorders

clinic at the British Columbia Children's Hospital.

Garland was the author of a commentary on the drugs published in this week's

issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal. In the piece she noted the

accumulated scientific data - some of which has been suppressed by drug

companies - show these medications have " minimal to no effectiveness in

childhood depression beyond a placebo effect. "

Other members of the panel include Dr. Clive Chamberlain, a Toronto-based

adolescent suicide expert and Dr. Aidan Stokes, a child and adolescent

psychiatrist from Halifax.

A record of the meeting is expected to be drafted by the end of March.

Concern has been mounting about the use of SSRIs in children and teens. The

drugs are known to induce suicidal thought and actions in a small proportion of

users.

Earlier this month Health Canada issued an advisory cautioning that anyone under

the age of 18 using these medications should consult their doctor to see if the

benefits outweighed the risk. The drugs listed were: citalopram, sold as Celexa;

fluoxetine or Prozac; fluvoxamine or Luvox; mirtazapine or Remeron; paroxetine

or Paxil; sertraline or Zoloft and venlaflaxine or Effexor.

© Copyright 2004 The Canadian Press

Jim - Norman

" Never look at the trombones, it only encourages them. "

Strauss

[Guest guest]

Expert panel on anti-depressants use in children to convene Friday

Canadian Press

Wednesday, February 18, 2004

ADVERTISEMENT

TORONTO (CP) - A panel of experts asked to advise Health Canada on whether

anti-depressants are safe and effective when taken by children and teenagers

will convene Friday.

The group of six experts, a scientific advisory panel looking into newer classes

of anti-depressants called selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and

serotonin/norepinephrine re-uptake inhibitors (SNRIs), will hold a two-hour

conference call to draft recommendations for the department, spokesperson Jirina

Vlk said Wednesday.

Members of the panel have been given a list of questions the department wants

answered. The panel will make recommendations, but Health Canada will make final

decisions on the issue, Vlk said.

The panel includes Dr. Jane Garland, head of the mood and anxiety disorders

clinic at the British Columbia Children's Hospital.

Garland was the author of a commentary on the drugs published in this week's

issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal. In the piece she noted the

accumulated scientific data - some of which has been suppressed by drug

companies - show these medications have " minimal to no effectiveness in

childhood depression beyond a placebo effect. "

Other members of the panel include Dr. Clive Chamberlain, a Toronto-based

adolescent suicide expert and Dr. Aidan Stokes, a child and adolescent

psychiatrist from Halifax.

A record of the meeting is expected to be drafted by the end of March.

Concern has been mounting about the use of SSRIs in children and teens. The

drugs are known to induce suicidal thought and actions in a small proportion of

users.

Earlier this month Health Canada issued an advisory cautioning that anyone under

the age of 18 using these medications should consult their doctor to see if the

benefits outweighed the risk. The drugs listed were: citalopram, sold as Celexa;

fluoxetine or Prozac; fluvoxamine or Luvox; mirtazapine or Remeron; paroxetine

or Paxil; sertraline or Zoloft and venlaflaxine or Effexor.

© Copyright 2004 The Canadian Press

Jim - Norman

" Never look at the trombones, it only encourages them. "

Strauss