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A small clinical study reported recently in New Scientist magazine found that men who were taking an antidepressant such as Paxil showed significant increases in sperm damage — that is, sperm with fragmented DNA — that would decrease their fertility. Such levels of sperm damage are associated with problems creating a viable embryo.

Double the Level of Damaged Sperm

The study, conducted by New York-based Cornell Medical Center's researchers Cigdem Tanrikut and Peter Schlegel, looked at 35 healthy men given paroxetine, which is sold by pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline as Paxil. After just four weeks of paroxetine treatment, the men's average proportion of sperm cells with fragmented DNA rose from about 14 percent to more than 30 percent.

Adds to Earlier Findings

The study's results, due to be presented at the November meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, add to earlier findings by the same authors. In 2006, they found that two male subjects developed low counts of non-damaged sperm after being treated with other SSRI (selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitor) antidepressants.

Paxil, Prozac, Other SSRIs

Paxil is an SSRI, as is Prozac (fluoxetine, made by Eli Lilly Co.). SSRIs are the most commonly prescribed class of antidepressant, and their use is becoming extremely widespread throughout the United States. The use of SSRIs tripled in the last decade or so, and unexpected side effects of their use continue to be revealed. In addition, SSRIs are increasingly being prescribed to adolescents and even children.

Thousands of Lawsuits for SSRI Side Effects

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) introduced Paxil in 1992. Extended-release Paxil is also now available. Together these drugs account for more than one billion dollars of sales for GSK each, but more than 5,000 people have already sued GSK for damaging side effects.

(Source: MSNBC)

Getting Legal Help

If you fear that your fertility or that of your loved one may have been decreased by an antidepressant or another prescription drug, contact us to schedule a private consultation with a defective drug attorney in your area to discuss your concerns. Drug companies have an obligation to adequately warn their customers of all possible side effects of their products.