During the early 1990s in the USA and Canada, children were prescribed an ever-growing barrage of antidepressants without sufficient evidence of results or safety. In 2003 paroxetine (Paxil) and venlafaxine (Serotax) were put to the test. In three different trials, two groups of children took either pharmaceuticals or placebos. The results indicated no benefit in taking the pharmaceuticals. In fact, according to unfavorable tests hidden by Paxil’s maker, GlaxoSmithKline PLC, suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts actually increased among children who took these drugs. When these trials surfaced, the U.S. public was outraged. How could a treatment for depression actually worsen this disease, and why would the maker of this treatment lie about its negative side effects?
Unfortunately, antidepressants are often mindlessly tossed at an already complicated problem. These psychotropic drugs are swirled into an already dysfunctional chemical stew. Food allergies, food additives, airborne neurotoxins and other environmental factors are rarely addressed. It seems these antidepressants perplex the problem at best, and exacerbate it at worst.
GlaxoSmithKline PLC was sued in 2004 for allegedly concealing negative side effects of Paxil on children. While they have followed through on their subsequent promise to post all trial results online, GlaxoSmithKline PLC is one of many pharmaceutical corporations peddling antidepressants for children. Not all follow these guidelines, nor is it certain that all trials are honestly represented. If these corporations were willing to hide the truth and risk the health of our nation’s children once, what is stopping them from doing it again?
If your child suffers from depression, the best course of action is to remove the cause. By assessing food allergies, food additives, airborne neurotoxins and environmental factors, optimal health can be attained without the use of potentially dangerous drugs.
