Drug Manufacturer Fraud Litigation - Written by Beasley Allen on Thursday, January 20, 2011 13:22 - 8 Comments

Forest Laboratories settles lawsuits over drugs tied to suicides

Forest Laboratories has settled a number of wrongful death and personal injury lawsuits filed by the parents of children who took the drugs Celexa and Lexapro. Fifty-four lawsuits, mostly involving suicides and attempted suicides by teenagers in various parts of the country, accuse the New York-based pharmaceutical company of concealing a negative pediatric study on Celexa, misleading physicians about the drug’s clinical trials, and targeting children in aggressive promotions of Celexa and a sister drug, Lexapro. These settlements came about a month after Forest’s Earth City subsidiary pleaded guilty to illegally marketing antidepressants to children and adolescents.

I have reason to believe there will be more settlements in the months ahead. The pharmaceutical company is trying hard to get the controversy surrounding its marketing of antidepressants to children behind it. It’s quite evident that the company can’t afford to litigate these cases. The company’s subsidiary – Forest Pharmaceutical – agreed to plead guilty to criminal charges involving its marketing and manufacturing practices and also to pay more than $300 million in criminal and civil penalties. The U.S. ’s office in Boston is continuing to investigate the potential criminal liability of Forest officers and employees. According to federal regulators, Forest waged an aggressive campaign from 1999 through at least 2005 to promote the use of Celexa and Lexapro in children and teenagers, although neither drug was approved for pediatric use.

Source: St. Louis Today



8 Comments

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Terrie
Jan 29, 2011 20:49

My husband was on lexapro to treat serious depression, while he was on the drug, he complained that he felt suicidal, calling the doctor and explaining this we were told to give the medicine a chance to work since he had only been on it a few weeks….this was in August of 2008, on September 15th 2008 my husband poured gas through out our home and opened all the windows, set the house on fire and stood at the back door and killed him self with a shotgun with buck shot, not only did I loose my husband of 18 years but I lost my home and all my possessions. I would like to know where I can go to file a lawsuit against lexapro because this drug is what caused his suicide. He left myself and 3 beautiful children behind. He had so much to live for. No amount of money will ever replace him, but maybe by my actions I can somehow keep another family from experiencing this tragedy. Any feed back is appreciated. I can be reached @ terrielynn_10121974@yahoo.com may GOD be with him and all who have experienced the pain and loss of their loved one due to the use of such a powerful and misleading drug…..

Lisa
Feb 14, 2012 20:24

My brother died July 1999, not from suicide but from a seizure caused by the use of Celexaz. I would like to know more and perhaps have someone contact me. I think he was part of clinical trials and it killed him.

Jennifer
Apr 13, 2012 13:14

My sister-in-law was on lexipro for five days for anxiety. She would go into a strange “zombie like state” and then violently killed herself. There is no doubt it was the lexipro. The suicide was spontaneous and violent and happened just after a few days on this drug. It just happened April 11, 2012 and because the drug company put a label that said suicidal thoughts could occur we won’t have a case against them. This is crazy.

Brenda Daniel
Sep 5, 2012 9:49

I was diagnosed with PTSD in 2007, I was prescribed celexa, 60mg. I now have damage to my heart, my life has changed and to make it worse, I found out 2 days after I was married. I am seeing a cardioligist, not sure what is next.

gabby
Sep 29, 2012 21:01

My mother has had fallen issues since her bones got weaker due to the long use of Lexapro. She has had a few surgeries for her back, hip and knee and I believe this dangerous drug has done more to her body as well as her thoughts! Please Help! I want her off immediatly and a lawsuit filed!

helen
Nov 8, 2012 1:24

My 24 year old son was put on lexapro while in a treatment facility for his alcoholism. After he was released he relapsed after 6 days, which the rehab facility told me was likely and was part of the recovery process, and suddenly jumped off the 4th floor of his apartment building.

Racheal
Nov 28, 2012 13:36

My identical twin sister died by suicide June 11, 2012. She was on Celexa for a few months. She hadnt been battling depression for very long. She was going through a lot and had lost her job when she got put on Celexa. Before she died she posted on facebook “It looks like it is the end of the rope for me. It was nice knowing you all!” And she shot herself in the head with an SKS Assault rifle. This was 2 weeks before our Birthday (June 25) I am so lost. I am trying to figure out what I can do. I miss my sister so much. Being a twin.. I feel like half of me is gone. There is a memorial video if anyone wants to see it. if the link doesnt work you can go to youtube and look up Sara Hall Memorial Video.

David Krebs
Jan 30, 2013 19:11

My 18 year old son was taking celexa for about 11/2 years 20 mg initially then 40 mg for about 9 months. He had graduated high school in the spring then enrolled in community college last fall. He seemed very happy on Thursday after his first class. On Friday he spent with my wife and her friend and seemed perfectly happy on Saturday evening he was talking to his girlfriend on the phone when I told him dinner was ready. He told his girlfriend that he had to go as I had made dinner. I handed his dinner to him and he said he wasn’t hungry as he walked past me. My wife and I found him hanged 20 minutes later. I don’t know how he went from being happy to being driven to suicide. I’m told that because he was feeling better from his depression that he was able to act on his suicidal tendencies. This makes no sense to me.

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