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Serzone® Do not discontinue taking any medications without first consulting your physician.
Serzone® and Liver Toxicity
Serzone® [pronounced suhr-ZONE], or nefazodone, was a chemically unique drug approved in 1994 as an antidepressant and prescribed for symptoms of severe depression and anxiety. It was considered a breakthrough for its ability to effectively balance depression-causing chemicals in the brain while minimizing typical antidepressant side effects.
Serzone was voluntarily withdrawn from the market in June 2004. Unfortunately, millions of users worldwide took Serzone without knowing its tendency to poison the liver.
What is Serzone and how does it work?
Serzone is a relatively new drug. Its chemical structure is different than other antidepressant types like TCAs (Tricyclic Antidepressants) and SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) such as Prozac® or Zoloft®. And unlike SSRIs, Serzone reportedly results in a minimum of the typical antidepressant side effects such as weight gain, sleep deprivation, and decreased libido.
Why is it dangerous?
Serzone has been linked to dozens of cases of liver failure and injury leading to liver transplant and at least 20 deaths. While most antidepressants come with potential side effects, Serzone’s effect on the liver creates an unacceptable 300% increased risk of transplant or death. An estimated 7 million patients have been treated for depression with this drug, which means an alarming segment of the population is exposed to serious health risks.
What has been done to protect consumers?
The public was first informed of Serzone’s dangerous side effects in July 2001, when the Canadian government issued a public health warning. After several cases of liver failure since the drug was introduced there in 1994, Health Canada urged people taking the drug to carefully monitor liver functions and in 2003 banned the drug.
On December 7, 2001, the FDA ordered Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. to add a black-box warning on the label cautioning the public about the potentially deadly liver damage risk. On January 9, 2002, the FDA followed that action by sending out a letter warning the healthcare profession of Serzone’s deadly effects.
Because of mounting lawsuits and increasing pressure from consumer groups, and officially citing decreased sales, Bristol-Myers Squibb voluntarily withdrew Serzone from the market, effective June 2004.
What are the symptoms of Serzone-related injuries?
The liver damage for which Serzone is drawing the FDA’s attention can be quite severe, having caused an undisclosed number of deaths and transplants already. The symptoms of Serzone-induced liver problems may include:
What should I do if I was given Serzone?
Do not discontinue taking any medications without first consulting your physician. While there is no cause for panic simply for having taken the drug on a doctor’s prescription, it is important to discuss your concerns with your doctor, to see whether a different antidepressant might work for you. If you have noticed any of the above symptoms that may suggest liver damage, call your doctor immediately. If liver damage has occurred, an experienced law firm like ours can answer your legal questions and help you obtain compensation for your injuries and exposure to Serzone’s life-threatening side effects.
Do not discontinue taking any medications without first consulting your physician. This article is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to constitute medical advice and should not be viewed as such. For medical advice, you should always consult with your physician.
Serzone® is a registered trademark of Bristol-Myers Squibb and is used here only for the purpose of identifying the product in question.
Prozac® is a registered trademark of Eli Lilly and Company and is used here only for the purpose of identifying the product in question.
Zoloft® is a registered trademark of Pfizer Inc. and is used here only for the purpose of identifying the product in question.
This law firm is not affiliated with, sponsored by or associated with Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly and Company, Pfizer Inc., the FDA, or Health Canada.
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