FDA panel findings intensify struggles with prescribing of antidepressants ...

AMNews: Oct. 4, 2004. FDA panel findings intensify struggles with prescribing of antidepressants ... American Medical News
By Susan J. Landers, AMNews staff. Oct. 4, 2004.

Washington -- Physicians who treat depressed children and teens are even more carefully weighing the risks and benefits of prescribing antidepressant medications after the Sept. 14 recommendation of two Food and Drug Administration advisory panels that the agency place "black box" warnings on the medications' labels.

After considering evidence from 24 clinical trials, and testimony of numerous physicians and anguished parents whose children committed suicide after treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, the Psychopharmacologic Drugs Advisory Committee and the Pediatric Advisory Committee jointly voted 15-8 to recommend that the strongest possible warning be placed on the drugs' labels to alert physicians to their dangers.