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Lawsuits over antidepressants claim the drug is worse than the disease.

Article Excerpt
Jeremy Lown, a South Carolina teenager, suffered from Tourette's syndrome. To treat his uncontrollable tics and verbal outbursts, his neurologist prescribed the antidepressant Prozac. Three weeks after starting the medication, Jeremy hanged himself in the woods behind his house.

Vicky Jo "Brynn" Hartman of California was given a sample pack of Zoloft by her child's doctor. She was not diagnosed with--or even evaluated for--clinical depression, anxiety attacks, or any other psychological disorder. She merely mentioned she needed a "pick-me-up" to help with stress. Soon after starting the medication, she shot her husband, comedian Phil Hartman, and then herself.

Gary Piccirillo of Florida took Paxil for three years to treat bipolar disorder. When he tried to stop taking the drug in 2000, he experienced severe withdrawal symptoms including dizziness, sweating, nightmares, hallucinations, severe nausea, heart palpitations, and sensations like electric "zaps" and "jolts." He resumed the medication three weeks later, but continued to experience some of the symptoms. In 2001, he attempted suicide.

Once considered wonder drugs, these antidepressants have reportedly helped millions of people with depression and anxiety disorders. Yet the drugs have had disastrous consequences for others. The manufacturers insist the drugs have only mild side effects and are non-habit-forming. Plaintiff attorneys across the country disagree, and they are working to debunk the drug makers' claims and obtain compensation for people allegedly harmed by the drugs.

Claims have been filed across the country, charging that the drugs prompted users to behave violently. In 2001, a Wyoming jury awarded substantial damages to the relatives of Donald Schell, who killed his wife, daughter, granddaughter, and then himself while on Paxil. (Tobin v. GlaxoSmithKline, No. 00-CV-0025 (D. Wyo. June 6, 2001).) The suit filed by Jeremy Lown's family is scheduled for trial this month in South Carolina. Class action suits have been filed in California and in...