According to the World Health Organization, depression remains to be one of the leading causes of disability in the United States causing productivity losses amounting to $40 million.   Over 150 million people have been afflicted with the mental disorder and the number is growing as years pass, the BBC News also reports in 2011.   Around half of this number is prescribed with antidepressant drugs such as Paxil, Zoloft, Lexapro and Prozac, according to various studies.   With reports of Paxil alcohol effects, birth defects, heart problems and other reported side effects, antidepressant use have grown a cause for concern.

Many patients are exposed to the side effects of various drugs considering the rising number of dependencies on antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs.   Take for example Paxil. It causes severe side effects including birth defects, cardiovascular complications and suicidal behavior.  Many lawsuits have been filed due to these issues.  Due to injuries caused by several antidepressant drugs, many depression patients are now reconsidering their treatment options.





According to the New York Times, the number of Americans taking antidepressants has doubled to 10.1 percent of the population in 2005 compared with 1996, increasing across income and age groups over the years.   The Columbia University researchers say that the use of psychotherapy declined among depression-stricken patients and an estimated 27 million Americans ages six and older were taking these antidepressant drugs by 2005. The skyrocketing antidepressant use has also been reported by CBS News.   A report by the Center for Disease Control National Center for Health Statistics says that over a 10-year period the use of the pills has risen a staggering 400 percent.

An alarming finding has also reflected that eight of Americans without any depressive symptoms take the drugs.   Dr. Gary Small, a psychiatrist and director of the UCLA Center on Aging told ABC News, says "The reality is that there are not enough mental health care providers around to treat all who need it."   "Part of what we do as psychiatrists is teach doctors how to diagnose and treat depression so that a lot of depression can be handled in primary care."

A call for a higher perusal and regulation over these drugs had been warranted by this concern as the number of antidepressant users increase.   More and more users are affected and exposed by the harmful repercussions of antidepressant intake.   Issues like Paxil lawsuit and other inconveniences also raise a concern among depression-stricken patients.   These controversies and Paxil lawsuits have been incited all over the country by reason of paroxetine use.


REFERENCES:

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B00E2DD1539F937A3575BC0A96F9C8B63&ref=antidepressants

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-20123062-10391704.html
http://www.webmd.com/depression/news/20111019/use-of-antidepressants-on-the-rise-in-the-us