§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many adverse reaction yellow cards related to Prozac there have been in the last six months.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe Committee on Safety of Medicines has received 370 reports of suspected adverse reactions to Prozac in the last six months. A report of a suspected adverse reaction does not necessarily mean that the reaction was caused by the drug.
§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when his experts last reviewed the safety of the anti-depressant drug Prozac; and what advice they gave regarding the possibility of side effects.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe anti-depressant, Prozac, is a relatively new drug and therefore its safety is reviewed on a monthly basis. The Committee on Safety of Medicines has examined the possibility that Prozac may be 553W associated with suicidal thoughts or violent behaviour. The committee concluded that the available evidence does not support this hypothesis. The safety of Prozac will be kept under review.