FAILURE TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH
Two separate congressional investigations took place in 2004 regarding the FDA’s failure to protect public health on the issue of antidepressant-induced suicidality in children and adolescents as well as its suppression of evidence related thereto.
See:
Barton, Greenwood Seek Info From FDA On Antidepressants
http://energycommerce.house.gov/108/News/03242004_1243.htm
Grassley Questions FDA’s Handling of Research on Antidepressants, Suicide
http://finance.senate.gov/press/Gpress/2004/prg032504b.pdf
Also of importance is that the FDA and media reports since the March 22, 2004 warnings announcement have largely failed to discuss the drugs’ lack of efficacy (An Analysis of Antidepressant Medication Data Submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration). Thus, statements by the FDA and others to the media about fears that people will not seek and/or receive the medical treatment they need (i.e., antidepressants) and that this lack of treatment will increase the risk of suicide, is a misleading and hollow argument in the face of the drugs’ lack of efficacy. In fact, there is a grotesque over-prescription of these drugs for common-place life situations that cannot be considered a “disease” necessitating medication.
http://www.journals.apa.org/prevention/volume5/pre0050023a.html
Moreover, there is no evidence that these drugs reduce suicide.
See, e.g.
Antisuicidal Effect Of Psychotropics Remains Uncertain ‘We have to ask if medication is the only way ’to approach the prevention of suicide.' "
Statements by the FDA and others (such as the ACNP) in the media that the suicide rate has gone down in countries where antidepressant use is prevalent are disingenuous at best. In fact, it is very well known that economic factors are the most prominent signal to increased or reduced suicide rates in any given geographical location.
Member of the UK panel investigating antidepressants for the MHRA (UK FDA) resigns, citing Government Cover-up
Drug companies and regulators knew that higher doses of antidepressants were ineffective, but they significantly increase side effects, including suicide risk, yet allowed the misconception to continue for more than 10 years, that increasing the dose was okay. By Richard Brook, Chief Executive of Mind re Seroxat/Paxil
http://antidepressantadversereactions.com/RichardBrookExposesMHRACoverUp.pdf
Member of UK Parliament speaks out, calling the "Seroxat [Paxil] scandal one of gigantic proportions."
http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm200304/cmhansrd/cm040223/debtext/40223-31.htm#40223-31_head0