§ Paul FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children under the age of 18 years have been prescribed the anti-depressant Efexor in each of the past five years. [132314]
§ Dr. LadymanInformation is not available in the form requested. The table shows the estimated number of prescription items of venlafaxine (Efexor being a branded form) dispensed in the community in England for children between 1999 and 2002. Children are defined as 0 to 15-year-olds and those aged 16 to 18 in full-time education.
On 19 September an expert group of the Committee on Safety of Medicines advised that venlafaxine should not be used in children and adolescents under the age of 18 years for the treatment of depressive illness. Advice was also issued on stopping treatment with venlafaxine.
Estimated number of prescription items of all venlafaxine dispensed in the community in England for children between 1999 and 2002 Number 1999 5,000 2000 6,000 2001 9,000 2002 13,000
§ Paul FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many reports the Medicines Control Agency has received of suicides attributed to Efexor in each of the last five years; and how many yellow card reports the Medicines Control Agency has received about Efexor in each of the last five years. [132315]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonThe number of adverse drug reactions received by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) under the yellow card scheme in respect of venlafaxine (Efexor) over the last five years is shown in the table, together with the number of reports of completed suicide.
460W
Number of UK reports for venlafaxine (Efexor) Number of reports of completed suicide for venlafaxine (Efexor) 1998 589 2 1999 444 3 2000 349 3 2001 303 I 2002 316 1 The number of reports received via the yellow card scheme does not directly equate to the number of people who suffer adverse reactions to drugs for a number of reasons, including an unknown level of under-reporting. It is important to note that the reporting of a reaction does not necessarily mean it was caused by the drug and may relate to other factors, such as the patients underlying illness or other medicines taken concurrently.
As with all medicines, the MHRA and the Committee on Safety of Medicines are keeping the safety of venlafaxine under continuous review. The summary of product characteristics for venlafaxine advises prescribers about the risk of suicide that is inherent in patients with depressive illness.