Judge Orders Removal of TV Ads That Claim Paxil is 'Non-Habit Forming'

LOS ANGELES-A federal judge granted the request for a preliminary injunction that would require the manufacturer of Paxil to withdraw television advertisements claiming the antidepressant does not induce dependency. In re: Paxil Litigation, No. CV-01-07937 (C.D. Calif.).

U.S. District Judge Mariana Pfaelzer's Aug. 16 decision stated that the ads were 'misleading and created inaccurate expectations about the ease of withdrawal from the drug.'

GlaxoSmithKline argued that the plaintiffs had already suffered the alleged injuries associated with the withdrawal from Paxil and that the preliminary injunction would not redress the plaintiffs' alleged injuries. Rather, an order to enjoin the advertisements is …