An anti-depressant medication

Paxil, an anti-depressant intended to be marketed to adults, was prescribed to 2 million kids and adolescents in 2002 alone. GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), the drug's manufacturer, was charged with illegally persuading doctors to prescribe Paxil to young people, despite evidence that the medication may be harmful.

GSK cited a 2001 study, referred to as Study 329, to convince doctors to give Paxil to teens and kids. The study, however, was funded by the drug company, and researchers later discovered that the information in Study 329 was manipulated to de-emphasize dangerous side effects like self-harm and suicide.

A new look at Study 329 published by the BMJ is even more worrying. This research – not backed by money form GSK – suggests that in addition to the dangerous side effects of Paxil, the medication is almost completely ineffective in treating depression in teens. It produced the same results as a placebo.

GSK was sued by the New York State Attorney General's Office in 2012 and pleaded guilty, agreeing to pay $3 billion in fines. It was revealed that GSK knew of the dangers of Paxil and in 2004 a warning was added to the packaging advising against prescribing the drug to minors.

Paxil is still being marketed to adults and the GSK suit has dredged up other dangerous instances of marketing for what are called "off-label" uses.