The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 269 No 7222 p632
2 November 2002

This article
Reprint
Photocopy

News summary

Related websites
Irish Medicines Board (more)

Emergency Seroxat role for pharmacists

Pharmacists in Ireland have been asked by the Irish Medicines Board to tell patients taking Seroxat (paroxetine) about the risk of self-harm and suicide.

Following a BBC Panorama programme on Seroxat and coverage in the Irish media, it emerged that GlaxoSmithKline had failed to bring information in Irish packs in line with the United Kingdom despite having been told to do so last December. The company has now been ordered to recall the product from wholesalers and to issue a clarification letter and revised patient information leaflets to pharmacists and doctors.

The decision to bring the information into line was agreed by the medicines board and the company following an expert review in the summer of 2001. A GlaxoSmithKline spokeswoman said that the suicide reference "had not been defined as critically urgent" and had been brought to the manufacturing site too late for supplies to the Irish market.

Richard Collis, president of the Irish Pharmaceutical Union, said that a significant number of Irish patients take Seroxat. "Many of them need Seroxat just to maintain everyday living," he said. "With all the publicity about the medicines board ordering a recall, they were frightened supplies were being withdrawn. We had to help calm their fears and reassure them."