SAN DIEGO -- A family who lost a member to suicide is suing Pfizer for promoting epileptic seizure medication Neurontin as an "off-label" pain medicine.

According to a complaint filed Feb. 21 in U.S. District for the Southern District of California, defendants -- which also include Parke Davis and Warner Lambert LLC -- fraudulently misrepresented material facts concerning the safety and effectiveness of Neurontin in treatment of pain.

The FDA approved Neurontin in 1993 for the treatment of seizures in adult patients suffering from epilepsy.

In 1995, the suit claims, sales teams and medical liaisons presented and pushed the drug for unintended usage, such as treating anxiety disorders, social phobias, bipolar disorder, alcohol withdrawal symptoms, spinal cord injury, essential tremor, migraine headaches and restless leg syndrome.

Plaintiffs Marilyn, Scott and Chad Bennett for the estate of Alan Bennett, claim that even though defendants should have known that Neurontin caused symptoms associated with suicidal behavior they continuously promoted the drug's off label use to maximize profits.

The plaintiffs have demanded a jury trial. They seek damages for breach of warranty, negligence, fraud and for alleged violations of the California Consumer Protection Act.

Represented by Robinson, Calcagni & Robinson of Newport Beach, Calif., the plaintiffs also accuse the defendants of circumventing the patent process to avoid competition from generic drugs.

The defendants have yet to respond.