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Adverse drug reactions account for about 100,000 deaths in the
U.S. every year, making it the fourth-leading cause of death overall.
Serzone antidepressant drug, FDA approved in 1994, is contributing
to the prescription drug death statistic due to the cases of liver
failure that have resulted from its use. The rate of liver failure
associated to Serzone antidepressant drug is approximately three
to four times greater than an individual not treated with Serzone
antidepressant. A report that was published in the Wall Street Journal
identified that one person in 250,000 to 300,000 taking Serzone
antidepressant will suffer a liver failure.
So far, an estimated 7 million Americans have taken Serzone antidepressant
drug. While the amount of Americans that suffer from depression
has experienced a dramatic increase, Dr. Andrew Stanway, a British
physician, says "If antidepressant drugs were really as effective
as they are made out to be, surely hospital admission rates for
depression would have fallen over the twenty years they've been
available."

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| The FDA has finally
responded to the reported 109 serious liver damage cases caused
by Serzone antidepressant by notifying Serzone manufacturer
Bristol-Myers on December 7, 2001 that they needed to add a
Black
Box warning on the label and provide new patient inserts
to Serzone antidepressant drug users. A Black Box warning is
the strongest type of warning that the FDA issues. In January
the FDA again revised the information on the Serzone antidepressant
label. |
The number of adverse Serzone antidepressant side effects is thought
grossly underestimated due to underreporting. The FDA's efforts
to warn users of Serzone antidepressant drug of the "cases
of life-threatening hepatic failure have been reported in patients
treated with Serzone" follow the Canadian government's action
by six months. Canada was the first country to take note of the
risk of experiencing a liver failure when taking Serzone antidepressant
and immediately had Bristol-Myers send letters notifying doctors
of the risk of developing a Serzone liver
damage problem. At this time Bristol-Myers failed to notify
any American doctors of the antidepressant and when asked about
this matter a spokeswoman said, "We didn't think it was necessary
in the U.S. because what happened in Canada was specific to Canada."
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View
the Full Revised Serzone Antidepressant Label
View
the Serzone Patient Packet Insert
Serzone
Antidepressant Causes Liver Damage
Figures are probably more conservative than the actual number of
liver complications that have arisen due to Serzone antidepressant
drug because of underreporting . . . 
About
Serzone Antidepressant Drug
Consumer advocacy group, Public Citizen, has provided comprehensive
information on Serzone antidepressant drug. The Serzone information
includes how to administer the antidepressant and possible adverse
effects to be aware of . . . 
Safer
Antidepressant Drug Use
By taking the time to learn about the antidepressant medication
that your doctor wishes to administer you can help avoid injuries
that have led to instances like the Serzone liver failures . . .
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