Prozac Product Liability Lawsuits
Regardless of the hundreds of defective product lawsuits in Missouri and throughout the nation linking Prozac to suicidal and violent behavior, approximately 38 million people in over 100 countries take Prozac for a myriad of disorders and afflictions. While primarily prescribed to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and panic attacks, Prozac has even been approved to curve eating disorders.
Created by Eli Lilly and approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1987, it is the only antidepressant approved to treat certain disorders in children, such as major depression disorder (MDD) and OCD in kids. Prozac is also used for several “off-label” purposes, such as to treat alcoholism, sleep problems, attention deficit disorder and post traumatic stress disorder. Because of the substantial range of illnesses Prozac is used to remedy, it is no wonder why critics often call it the most over-prescribed drug in the world. Now Prozac users are experiencing drug injury in Missouri and across the U.S.
How It Words and Side Effects
Prozac works by inhibiting the re-uptake of serotonin between neural connections in the brain, which leaves more serotonin available to transfer neural electrical messages more smoothly and effectively. Over-prescription, however, is not the only problem that has been associated with Prozac. The drug currently carries a black box warning regarding the risks and dangers of suicidal and violent behavior.
In 2001, a man reportedly committed suicide after taking Prozac for only 3 days. He eventually threw the pills away, but when his body was found 4 days later, high levels of fluoxetine, the active ingredient in Prozac, were found in his blood. The lawsuit, brought by the family, alleged that Eli Lilly knew that some people have a hard time metabolizing the drug, yet concealed the information in order not to hinder sales, which resulted in the wrongful death of their son.
Additionally, multiple Prozac users have claimed that the drug made them commit violent acts. In one example, the “Prozac” defense was used by an insurance agent, in 2000, who robbed a bank and was subsequently acquitted because he had been prescribed Prozac and Xanax.
Some other common side effects of Prozac include:
• Insomnia
• Dry mouth
• Tremor
• Seizure
• Sexual Dysfunction
• Dizziness
• Rash
• Sweating
• Nausea/Vomiting/Diarrhea
• Hemorrhage
• Urinary Frequency
• Taste Perversion
If you or someone close to you has attempted to or has committed suicide after taking Prozac, has been the victim of violence at the hands of a Prozac user, or has suffered from any of the listed side effects, you may be able to recover damages for those injuries. Contact the experienced Missouri personal injury lawyers at Page Law for a free case evaluation. More information can be found at www.injuredclient.com.
