Lawsuit Charges That Paxil is Addictive

      A Los Angeles law firm announced on Friday the filing of a 
lawsuit against GlaxoSmithKline Plc., the maker of the 
antidepressant Paxil (paroxetine), charging that the drug causes 
severe withdrawal reactions.

      Neither the patients nor physicians expected these withdrawal 
reactions because, according to the complaint, Britain's Glaxo has 
deliberately failed to warn of the drug's addictive traits.

      Paxil was introduced in the US in 1992 and is approved for 
treatment of depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic 
disorder and social anxiety disorder.

      The drug has been at the center of legal trouble for Glaxo before. 
Earlier this summer, a Wyoming jury awarded $6.4 million to the 
family of a Paxil patient who murdered his wife, daughter and 
granddaughter and then committed suicide in what the family said 
was a reaction to the drug. Glaxo said it would appeal the verdict.

      The firm of Baum, Hedlund, Aristei, Guilford and Schiavo said it 
filed a class action complaint on behalf of 35 people who have 
allegedly suffered from withdrawal reactions such as dizziness and 
nausea. 

      This group represents thousands of Paxil users who have 
allegedly suffered from withdrawal reactions and 
dependency/withdrawal syndrome. They come from all walks of life 
(e.g., Lt. Col in the U.S. Air Force; former star athlete; web-designer; 
children; bank fraud investigator and many more) and reside 
throughout the United States. Each has experienced similar 
withdrawal reactions and problems such as: 

        jolting electric "zaps," dizziness, light-headedness, vertigo, 
in-coordination, gait disturbances, sweating, extreme nausea, 
vomiting, high fever, abdominal discomfort, flu symptoms, anorexia, 
diarrhea, agitation, tremulousness, irritability, aggression, sleep 
disturbance, nightmares, tremor, confusion, memory and 
concentration difficulties, lethargy, malaise, weakness, fatigue, 
paraesthesias, ataxia, and/or myalgia. 

      Paxil was introduced into the US market on December 29, 1992, 
and is a well known antidepressant medication in the same class as 
Zoloft and Prozac (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or 
"SSRI's"). Paxil is approved for marketing in the United States for 
conditions such as depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic 
disorder, and "social anxiety disorder." 

      Complaint Allegations: 

      1) The complaint alleges Paxil can cause some people who take 
it to experience serious and unexpected withdrawal reactions. 
Neither the patients nor the physicians expect these withdrawal 
reactions because, according to the complaint, the manufacturer has 
deliberately failed to warn of their potential occurrence.

      Both physician and patient unwittingly commit to Paxil without 
knowing the drug's addictive traits. None of the named plaintiffs 
were ever informed before starting Paxil that it was addictive, 
induced dependency, or created withdrawal reactions when dosage 
was reduced or terminated. 

      2) Paxil creates both physical and psychological dependency 
because GSK has suppressed the information about the severe 
withdrawal reactions of its drug, many patients and their physicians 
are fooled into thinking that the withdrawal reactions are caused by 
another condition (such as relapse), thus prompting further incorrect 
and unnecessary medical treatment, including increased dosages of 
Paxil. 

      3) GSK has known for years the distinct characteristics of Paxil 
which make it prone to cause withdrawal reactions when 
discontinued. While the medical community has acknowledged the 
potential for all SSRI's to cause dependency/withdrawal syndrome, 
Paxil is, by far, the worst. 

      According to World Health Organization ("WHO") data obtained by 
the plaintiff class members, Paxil has the highest incidence rate of 
withdrawal adverse experiences of any antidepressant drug in the 
world. "Even despite our clients' extreme difficulties caused by this 
drug, some remain on Paxil today because they are "hooked" and fear 
they cannot get off the drug," says attorney Mary Schiavo. 

      The complaint charges include fraud and deceit, negligence, 
strict liability, breach of warranty and implied warranty which can 
be seen on the complaint.

      Baum, Hedlund, Aristei, Guilford & Schiavo
      12100 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 950
      Los Angeles, CA 90025
      Contact: Robin McCall, Media Relations
      Day: (800) 827-0087 or (310) 207-3233
      Email: RMcCall@BaumHedlundLaw.com
      Web: www.baumhedlundlaw.com

      Baum, Hedlund, Aristei, Guilford & Schiavo August 24, 2001