Are Breast Cancer and Paxil Linked? New Study Suggests Drug May Influence Development

According to the Los Angeles Times, a group of researchers from the City of Hope in Duarte, California have developed a way to identify drugs and chemicals, which can disrupt hormones in humans and influence the development of diseases such as breast cancer.

The Times reported that in a trial screening of 446 drugs, the antidepressant Paxil (paroxetine) was found to have a weak estrogenic effect that could promote the development and growth of breast tumors in women.

The paper said the discovery was important because as many as a quarter of women treated for breast cancer suffer from depression, which is commonly treated with SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) like Paxil.

“The discovery that Paxil behaves as an endocrine-disrupting chemical may shed light on growing suspicions about the medication in women who have had breast cancer,” the Times reported. “A 2010 study found that breast cancer patients in Canada who were taking Paxil were more likely than those taking other antidepressants to die of breast cancer when there was a substantial overlap in their use of that antidepressant and of tamoxifen to prevent breast cancer recurrence.”

The researchers discovered that taking Paxil might block the production of a liver enzyme needed to metabolize tamoxifen.

What Should I Do If I Have Breast Cancer And I Take Paxil?

If you are taking Paxil and have breast cancer, you should consult your physician. You can also speak to our experienced defective drug attorneys. Paxil, and other SSRIs including Prozac, Zoloft, Lexapro, Luvox and Celexa, have been linked to other health issues, as well as persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN) in newborns.

For more information about antidepressants and injuries, talk with our SSRI lawyers by calling (888) 841-9623
for a free initial review of your case.