20 May 2004

by Anai Rhoads

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AnaiRhoads.org - Bristol-Myers Squibb announced Wednesday that they will halt further production of the well-known anti-depressant, Serzone.

The company initially blamed poor sales in Canada and Europe as the reason for the pull-out, but later admitted Serzone was a health hazard. Australia and New Zealand banned Serzone earlier this month. The maker has stopped production to those countries, but is now aiming at America.

According to the manufacturer, liver failure, death or a need for emergency liver transplant was apparent in those using Serzone. The average time noted by the company for any level liver injury ranged between 2 weeks and all the way up to 6 months. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) there have been a total of 55 cases of liver failure, 20 of which resulted in death.

The symptoms associated with liver failure include abdominal pain, Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), discoloured or dark urine, significant loss of appetite, and nausea and/or vomiting.

The maker produced hexagonal tablets containing 50mg, 100mg, 150mg, 200mg, or 250mg doses. Both Serzone and its generic form, Nefazodone, will no longer be available in the United States for prescription after 14 June 2004.

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