Pharmacists told to warn patients of anti-depressant suicide information

PHARMACISTS have been instructed to warn patients taking the anti-depressant Seroxat that the information leaflet accompanying the drug omits a reference to self-harm and suicide.

The instruction was issued by the Irish Medicines Board (IMB) following the discovery that its manufacturers, GlaxoSmithKline, had failed to include the reference despite being told to do so last December by the IMB.

The IMB has ordered the company to recall the product from wholesalers and issue a clarification letter and the revised patient information leaflet to pharmacists and doctors.