In July, the British pharmaceutical behemoth GlaxoSmithKline reached a $3 billion settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice over the company's illegal marketing of several drugs in the United States. One of these, the antidepressant Paxil, was pushed by GSK salespersons for treating children, even though it was not approved for children. Studies show that Paxil is ineffective for younger patients and some believe it makes them suicidal.
Three billion dollars is only a fraction of what GSK makes on antidepressants in a single year, so the fine isn't going to affect it much.
American TV airwaves are filled with commercials for prescription drugs, including antidepressants, and by law these ads have to state possible side effects. Usually, the side effects outnumber the benefits, and if you shut your eyes to the relaxing images of couples walking on beaches at sunset and concentrate on the voiceover, the CMs can be horrifying. But these drugs still sell well.