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Euro panel
to decide on Prozac for children
June
6, 2005
A
European drugs panel has been called to arbitrate on conflicting
opinion on the safety of Prozac to treat depression for under 18s
across Europe.
The European Medicine Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products
for Human Use (CHMP) said the arbitration was initiated by France,
after a number of European Union member states raised concerns about
children using Prozac.
CHMP
advised in April that Prozac - along with all serotonin selective
re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI) drugs - should not be used in under
18s.
However,
the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
has recommended that the drug can be used for them.
CHMP
concluded in April that SSRIs were associated with increased suicide-related
behaviour and hostility in young people.
The
MHRA came to a similar conclusion in 2003. But it exempted Prozac,
stating the drug's benefits outweighed risks.
See also:
April
26, 2005: European warning on Prozac for under-18-year-olds contravenes
advice in Britain - GPs and psychiatrists in Britain now face
conflicting advice
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