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Dept of Health

Answer

Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the development of suicidal tendencies in patients taking Prozac; if he will instruct the Medicines Control Agency and the Committee on Safety of Medicines to review this matter; and if he will make a statement. [1853] Jacqui Smith: The Department has not commissioned any recent research into the area of suicidal tendencies with Prozac. As with all medicines the safety of Prozac is continually monitored by the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) and the independent expert advisory body, the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM). In June 2001, the CSM considered the available data, including recent research on the issue, and concluded that study data do not support an association between fluoxetine and suicidal behaviour. However, due to the anecdotal reports of suicidal behaviour associated with fluoxetine, the CSM recommended that the issue should be kept under review and doctors and patients should be warned to be vigilant for suicidal thoughts and behaviour in the early stages of treatment. Patient information for Prozac, and that of other medicines in this class has been amended to include wording to this effect. This issue is being closely monitored by the MCA and will be further reviewed by the CSM in July 2001.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

1853; 371 c153-4W

Session

2001-02

Subjects

Health hazards Drugs Prescription drugs Side effects Suicide Fluoxetine

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk