This week federal health officials will weigh the risks of approving the antipsychotic drug Seroquel for the treatment of depression – even though sudden heart death is one of Seroquel’s side effects.

AstraZeneca, the London-based company that makes the drug, wants the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to approve Seroquel for depression and anxiety disorder patients. According to the Associated Press, millions of patients already use Seroquel for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. If the FDA expands the list of approved conditions, more than 20 million people in the United States could potentially receive Seroquel.

But there are serious safety concerns.

A recent New England Journal of Medicine article indicated that drugs like Seroquel can increase the risk of sudden cardiac death. Seroquel side effects also include high blood pressure and diabetes.

AstraZeneca is also facing a number of lawsuits that claim the drugmaker kept the dangers associated with Seroquel hidden.

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