Class Action Lawsuit In Australia - Ssri Antidepressants And Suicide Risk

[Queen Boudica]

http://medianet.com.au/releases/release-details?id=839212

Aropax/paxtine (Paroxatine); Zoloft (Sertraline); (Fluoxetine) Prozac/Erocap/Lovan/Zactin (Fluoxetine); (Fluvoxamine) Luvox/Faverin (Fluvoxamine); Cipramil, Talohexal (Citalapram); (Venlafaxine), Efexor-XR (Venlafaxine).

This law firm is calling for if you have been prescribed any of the above named antidepressant drugs and have suffered suicidal feelings, prolonged side-effects or other dangerous side-effects, then you should contact them because they are putting together a class action for the damages and compensation claim against the manufacturer of these products.

 

[Powder]

Recently, a mother of a young woman told me that she gave her daughter an ultimatum, snap out of depression or go get on SSRIs. I was not happy to hear this statement for several reasons:

1. This woman was constantly bellyaching, but it was not okay for her daughter to be sad. It was ironic.

2. Young people should not seek SSRIs for the fact that studies show youth and SSRIs mix tragically, with high incidents of suicidal tendencies during SSRIs treatment.

3. Nobody should go a Dr. to seek a drug. Let the Dr. do their job.

4. I was personally affected by SSRIs, which made me suicidal at age 21. Young age is associated with increased risk. But there are other risk factors.

 

[Sighs]

According to their website, none of the lawyers at this firm are specialist medical negligence lawyers.

Under Australian law, "feeling suicidal" is unlikely to sound in significant damages. You would need to have lost considerable income or required considerable care DUE TO the medication NOT your underlying medical condition (ie: your PTSD or depression or other mental health diagnosis for which you were prescribed the medication.)

Contact the lawyers if you wish, but ask a lot of questions about the potential monetary payout vs the stress of the litigation process. In particular, ask them about the likelihood of costs being awarded against you if you lose.

 

[Fadeaway]

I wish this lawsuit was in the U.S. I would join just on principle, plus I have medical documentation.

 

[Aylion]

fluoxetine made me suicidal and I started to self-harm on it. The restlessness mixed with the "I don't give a shit about anything" mixture was not good.. Also I am 3 months off it and still have loss of libido from it.

 

[dinka McDonnell]

Hi,
I have been taking Lyric and each tablet contains pregabalin. Also have been taking endep.
I have had adverse side affects and am wanting to know if this class action would include this medciation.

Regards,
Dinka McDonnell

 

[joeylittle]

Dinka, you will need to ask the firm (see this link: http://medianet.com.au/releases/release-details?id=839212)

MyPTSD isn't affiliated with this lawsuit in any way.

 

[Mit]

I was on Sertraline for three years. I had attempted suicide before I decided to go on anti depressants. I read the information that came with the tablets which clearly stated that in some cases it could increase the risk of suicide, my GP also advised me of the risk.

Obviously I can only reflect on my own experience. The tablets helped me through a very challenging time.

 

[Ellabella44]

Guess I'm weird then. On Zoloft and I was more suicidal before I started it. Si is still there, and comes to visit now and then. Guess I have just gotten used to it. No longer drinking or self harming. Sometimes still feel depressed, but its at tolerable level so far. Worst side effect right now is decreased libido. Only been on this for almost a year.

 

[Queen Boudica]

Don't think you are weird Ellabella44, these drugs do work for a lot of people from what I understand now. But it is the side-effects that are the problem as far as I understand and that is individual. As far as I understand it is trial and error as to what works. Although did I read about some tests they may be able to do soon that looks at genes or was it brain scans to determine which psychiatric drug would work better?

My daughter is on Zoloft for anxiety and she says it makes a difference. But she wasn't depressed. She has not had side effects or SI. I was SI before I went on Wellbutrin (not an SSRI) and I still feel so depressed. But what I note is that because my anxiety is reduced somehow the depression is more focussed. Like anxiety about stuff distracted the depression. I don't know.

If it is working for you @Ellabella44 I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Ellabella44]

Only helps cut down my depression. I take vistaril for anxiety. My aprn says its what benedryl is derived from. Can't take it during day because it puts me to sleep.

 

[Mit]

Definitely not weird @Ellabella44 . I was started on a different SSRI which made me feel very ill, not suicidal but still dreadful. I only took it once and went straight back to my doctor and switched to a different medication. All of them had a profound effect on my libido, which took months to return even after a came off the medication.

The point I was making in response to the class action thread is that in my case they helped, and I was fully informed of the potential for side effects, what they were and what to do if they occurred.

Clearly that is not everybody's experience.