Prozac: Lawsuits and Legal Information

Prozac (fluoxetine) is a well-known antidepressant drug produced by Eli Lilly and Company. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the drug in 1987. Prozac was the first in a wave of antidepressant medications known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) that reached the marketplace in the 1990s. Today, Prozac remains one of the most frequently prescribed SSRI antidepressants in the U.S.

Prozac quickly became the third most prescribed medication in the U.S. One in 10 Americans takes antidepressant medication. Pharmaceutical companies earned billions of dollars a year in antidepressants before generic versions of the drugs became available.

The commercial success of Prozac has revealed some medical problems associated with the medication. Many patients have reported side effects that have led to significant injuries. Some patients have responded by filing product liability lawsuits against Eli Lilly.

This article overviews Prozac litigation. It describes the problems plaintiffs experienced while taking the drug. It also discusses what to do if you suffer an injury after taking the medication.

Pharmaceutical companies have a responsibility to ensure their drugs carry adequate warnings and are safe to use. If you or a loved one has been harmed by Prozac, you may have a legal claim. Contact a product liability attorney near you for legal advice and next steps.

How Does Prozac Work?

Prozac, like other SSRIs, increases serotonin levels in your brain. Prozac works like most other antipsychotic drugs and antidepressants. For many patients suffering from depression and anxiety, Prozac has proven to be helpful. But it may not help with treatment-resistant depression.

Some drugs similar to Prozac include:

• Zoloft (sertraline) – Helps with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic attacks, and depression

• Celexa (citalopram) – Treats major depressive disorder
• Effexor (venlafaxine) – Doctors prescribe Effexor for patients suffering from social anxiety and depression
• Paxil (paroxetine) – Works as an antidepressant and helps with social anxiety disorder
• BuSpar (buspirone) – Helps reduce anxiety symptoms and trouble sleeping
• Nardil (phenelzine) – Treats depression

Zyprexa (olanzapine) – Patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder take this medication

Prozac isn’t a tricyclic antidepressant, but it works similarly. Both types of drugs increase serotonin levels. The difference is that tricyclic antidepressants also boost the amount of epinephrine in your brain.

Common Side Effects of Prozac

Patients taking Prozac have reported several side effects. Most are minor and don’t require additional medical treatment. Others are more severe. But some people have experienced adverse side effects that impacted their health.

The most common side effects of Prozac include:

• Headaches
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Sinus infections
• Indigestion
• Dry mouth
• Dizziness
• Drowsiness
• Excessive sweating
• Rashes
• Anxiety

Some patients have also reported experiencing sleep problems and sexual problems while on the medication.

A patient would rarely sue the drug manufacturer for these side effects. Most antidepressants carry a risk of minor side effects. This is true for drugs like Prozac, such as Lexapro, Zoloft, Paxil, and other similar medications.

But for some people, the drug carries serious side effects. Some of these require medical treatment, while others can be life-threatening.

Serious Side Effects of Prozac

Whenever you take a prescription medication, you run the risk of having an adverse reaction to the drug. This doesn’t mean you should continue taking the medicine. For example, pregnant women often steer clear of these drugs until their baby is born. This is especially true during the first trimester.

Some of the serious problems with taking Prozac include the following:

• Increased risk of birth defects and abnormalities
• Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN)
• Autism
• Anencephaly
• Omphalocele
• Heart defects
• Craniosynostosis
• Increased risk of suicide and suicidal thoughts in young adults
• Serotonin syndrome

When filling your prescription, you must consider any disclaimers the pharmaceutical company includes. If you’re not comfortable taking the drug after reading about the potential side effects, talk to your healthcare provider. There may be an alternative medication that you can take.

Some patients who experienced these adverse side effects sued the drug manufacturer. This is the case with all defective drugs. If you believe you became sick while taking Prozac, contact a personal injury lawyer right away. They’ll review your case and let you know how best to proceed.

Prozac and Serotonin Syndrome

In July 2006, the FDA issued an alert that a life-threatening condition called serotonin syndrome can occur while taking SSRIs like Prozac.

Symptoms of serotonin syndrome include:

• Restlessness
• Hallucinations
• Loss of coordination
• Fast heartbeat
• Increased body temperature
• Rapid changes in blood pressure
• Overactive reflexes
• Coma

Serotonin syndrome can prove fatal. Seek immediate medical attention. Patients taking Prozac will rarely experience serotonin syndrome. But this condition is so severe that you can’t be too safe.

Antidepressants and Pregnant Women

Everyone must be careful about the prescription drugs they take. This is especially true for pregnant women. You must be cautious even if you take an over-the-counter remedy such as St. John’s wort or melatonin. These medications and supplements can impact your and your unborn baby’s health.

In 2006, the FDA cautioned that women taking antidepressants during pregnancy put their babies at risk for persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN). Babies born with PPHN have abnormal blood flow through the heart and lungs. Their bodies don’t receive enough oxygen, and they can die.

Talk to your doctor if you’re taking Prozac and are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Similarly if you’re breastfeeding. Your breast milk will contain the drug and could make your baby sick.

Prozac and Increased Risk of Suicidality

In October 2004, the FDA directed all antidepressant manufacturers to revise their product labeling to include warning statements about an increased risk of suicidality in children, adolescents, and young adults.

Eli Lilly and Company added a black box warning to Prozac prescribing information. Along with the FDA, the drug manufacturer warned patients to look out for worsening depression and suicidal thoughts or behaviors.

Claims Made in Prozac Lawsuits

Many patients injured after taking Prozac sued the manufacturer, Eli Lilly. This included women who took Prozac during pregnancy and subsequently gave birth to children with congenital disabilities. Other cases involved the families of patients who took Prozac and later died by suicide or developed suicidal behavior. Some patients who developed serotonin syndrome after taking Prozac also sued.

These product liability lawsuits accused Eli Lilly of failing to warn healthcare professionals and patients about the risks associated with Prozac. The plaintiffs claimed that better warnings could’ve prevented patient injuries.

Many lawsuits also claimed that Eli Lilly failed to properly test Prozac before the drug became available in the marketplace.

Prozac Litigation and Lawsuits

Thousands of plaintiffs have sued Prozac over the last thirty years. Many of these cases involve patients who took Prozac and later died by suicide. Some plaintiffs sued both the drug manufacturer and the government for injuries caused by people who were on the antidepressant.

Some key cases involving Prozac include:

Romona Floyd vs. United States

In 2006, the plaintiff’s daughter, Jessica Floyd, was prescribed Prozac by a doctor at a federally funded clinic. After taking the drug for some time, Jessica attempted suicide. She survived the attempt but suffered severe brain damage. She passed away more than three years later.

Her mother, Romona Floyd, sued the federal government because they funded the clinic. The court found in favor of the plaintiff. The judge ordered the defendant to pay more than $3.45 million in damages.

Canadian Murder Trial

This 2009 case involved a teenager who was taking Prozac. In this case, the teenager started behaving strangely and ended up killing his friend.

Fentress vs. Shea Communications

A man named Joseph Wesbecker was taking Prozac when he took an AK-47 and opened fire at work. He killed eight of his coworkers and injured a dozen others. He then shot himself.

This was the first Prozac case that went to trial. The government settled the case for an undisclosed amount.

Bridges vs. United States

This was a recent case involving the parents of a young woman who died by suicide. Emylee Darnielle was a cadet at West Point. Her doctor changed her antidepressant prescription to Prozac. Shortly after that, she died by suicide. The parties settled the case in July 2022 for an undisclosed amount.

What Are My Legal Options for a Prozac Injury?

If you become seriously ill after taking Prozac, you have rights. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may need to sue the drug manufacturer. You may also need to pursue a medical malpractice claim against your healthcare professional.

Most patients who suffer harm after taking a prescription medication file a product liability lawsuit against the drugmaker. Under product liability law, manufacturers must market and sell safe products. This also applies to drug companies. They must also provide the medical community and public information about the risks and adverse side effects of their drugs. The courts may hold them liable for patient injuries if they don’t.

The other type of lawsuit you may need to file is a medical malpractice claim. If your doctor fails to check for adverse drug interactions or doesn’t warn you of a drug’s risks, the courts may hold them responsible for your injuries. Your malpractice attorney must prove that the doctor acted negligently or recklessly for you to recover damages.

Regardless of which type of case you pursue, your attorney will demand damages. These may include economic and non-economic damages, including but not limited to the following:

• Medical bills and future medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Lost future income
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress and mental anguish
• Punitive damages

Very few plaintiffs receive punitive damages. The courts reserve these for cases where the defendant behaved egregiously or maliciously.

Timeline of Prozac News and Research Updates

Follow along for a few notable updates involving Prozac.

May 2023: Prozac Safe for Patients with Kidney Disease

An article appearing in the Clinical Kidney Journal found that it is safe for patients with renal disorders to take Prozac. Prozac is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRIs). This class of medications is the safest for patients suffering from both kidney disease and depression. Given that patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are three times more likely to suffer from depression, this was inspiring news.

September 2021: Prozac May Reduce the Risk of Suicide

Over the years, many people have suggested that Prozac and other antidepressants may increase a patient’s risk of committing suicide. Early studies suggested that Prozac may increase suicidal thoughts, especially in young people. But a 2021 study appearing in Neuropsychopharmacology shows that Prozac may reduce your risk of suicide.

February 2021: Prozac May Help Treat COVID-19 Symptoms

A study at the University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences suggests that Prozac may help combat COVID-19. The active ingredient in Prozac and other antidepressants blocks your body’s production of a protein called interleukin-6. This is the protein that tells your brain to battle an infection.

When this happens, your white blood cell count goes down, leading to possible multiorgan failure. By blocking this protein, Prozac helps reduce the deadly symptoms of COVID-19. This leads to a lower risk of hospitalization and a greater survival rate.

Get Legal Help With Your Prozac Claim

Product liability lawsuits become complicated quickly. Drug companies also typically have an extensive legal team to defend against lawsuits. For the best chances of recovering compensation, consult a Prozac lawyer in your state.

First, identify a lawyer who can advocate effectively for you. FindLaw’s directory of product liability attorneys can get you started. Select your state or city to access ratings and contact information for qualified legal advisors in your area. Most attorneys offer free case evaluations.