Prozac Approved for Children in Europe

The European Medicines Agency approved the use of Eli Lilly and Company's antidepressant medication Prozac for use with children of “8 years of age and older who suffer from moderate to severe depression and who do not respond to psychological therapy,” according to an agency press release (http://www.emea.eu.int/pdfs/human/press/pr/20255406en.pdf). The approval for use of the drug in children is dependant on some conditions, including the use of the drug only in coordination with psychotherapy, that tests on the effects of the drug on child development be continued, and that if no clinical benefit is seen within nine weeks that treatment be “reconsidered.” (Dow Jones Newswires, 6/6/06)