Lilly scientists pressured to alter records for fluoxetine to change suicide attempts to ‘overdose’

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Friday, February 05, 2016 1:02 am Email this article

Fluoxetine (Prozac) and other serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI’s) increase the risk of suicide. The Boston Globe wrote an article talking about this in 2000. The article noted that…

“The company’s internal documents [Eli Lilly and Co.], some dating to the mid-1980s, as well as government applications and patents, indicate that the pharmaceutical giant has known for years that its best-selling drug could cause suicidal reactions in a small but significant number of patients.

“Internal documents show that in 1990, Lilly scientists were pressured by corporate executives to alter records on physician experiences with Prozac [fluoxetine], changing mentions of suicide attempt to “overdose” and suicidal thoughts to “depression.”

Reference

Garnett LR. Prozac revisited: As drug gets remade, concerns about suicides surface. Boston Globe, 2000 May 7; Posted on http://ahrp.org/prozac-revisited-concerns-about-suicides-surface-boston-globe/

Articles on the same subject can be found here:

• Prozac (fluoxetine)

• SSRI's

• Suicide