|
FROM: Psychiatric Times Forest Laboratories recently set aside $170 million in anticipation of eventually settling a federal government complaint about the company’s marketing and promotional practices.
In a press statement (http://www.frx.com/news/PressRelease.aspx?ID=1278589), Forest said that it provided a pretax reserve in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2009 amounting to $0.45 per share, because of ongoing discussions with the US Department of Justice (DOJ) about its activities in connection with Lexapro (escitalopram), Celexa (citalopram), and Levothroid (levothyroxine).
The DOJ’s 34-page civil complaint charged that for more than half a decade, Forest illegally marketed citalopram and escitalopram for off-label use in pediatric patients, used “illegal” inducements to physicians to get them to prescribe the drugs, suppressed research, and caused false claims to be submitted to federal health care programs. (See Psychiatric Times, April 2009, or http://www.psychiatrictimes.com.) |
|
|
 |
 |
|
Lexapro (escitalopram) is in a class of medicines called Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs). Lexapro is used to treat depression and General Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Lexapro is made by Forest Laboratories, Inc., and was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2002. Serious Side Effects of Lexapro
Serotonin Syndrome In July 2006, the FDA issued an alert stating that a life-threatening condition called serotonin syndrome can occur when medicines called Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs, such as Lexapro) and medicines used to treat migraine headaches known as 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor agonists (triptans), are taken together. Signs and symptoms of serotonin syndrome include: - restlessness
- hallucinations
- loss of coordination
- fast heartbeat
- increased body temperature
- fast changes in blood pressure
- overactive reflexes
- diarrhea
- coma
- nausea
- vomiting
Other Serious Health Risks of Lexapro In addition to the health risks announced in the FDA alerts (above), there may be other dangers associated with Lexapro use. Do not stop taking Lexapro suddenly. Doing so may result in harmful side effects. Your healthcare professional should slowly decrease your dose as necessary. The risks of using Lexapro include: - An increased risk of having suicidal thoughts or actions
- Bleeding problems, especially if taken with aspirin, NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen or naproxen), or other drugs that affect bleeding
- Mania (becoming hyperactive, excitable, or elated)
- Seizures (even if Lexapro is not taken close in time with a MAOI)
- Increased risks if you are pregnant or may become pregnant. Babies born to mothers taking Lexapro late in pregnancy have developed problems such as difficulty breathing and feeding
- Sexual problems including impotence (erectile dysfunction), abnormal ejaculation, difficulty in reaching orgasm, or decreased libido (sexual desire)
|
|
|
|
|
|
