Anti-Depressants & Suicide/Birth Defects (Celexa, Effexor, Lexapro, Paxil, Prestiq & Zoloft)
Recent research has raised concerns about the increased risk of birth defects as a result of pregnant women taking these drugs. Since September, 2005 information has been emerging that SSRI medications (selective seratonin reuptake inhibitors) such as Paxil may cause birth defects, including:
- cardiac (heart)
- pulmonary
- PPHN (lung)
- neural-tube defects (brain and spinal cord)
- craniosynostosis (abnormally shaped skull)
- infant omphalocele (abdominal wall defects)
- club foot (one or both feet turn downward and inward)
- anal atresia (complete or partial closure of the anus)
Several of these defects have now been linked with other antidepressants such as Zoloft, Celexa, Effexor, Lexapro, Symbyax and Prozac, and Prestiq, as well.
The FDA, through a public health advisory, has concluded that exposure to paroxetine in the first three months of pregnancy may increase the risk for congenital malformations, specifically cardiac malformations -- like Septal Defects -- including Atrial and Ventricular Septal Defects.
An atrial septal defect is a hole in the wall between the upper chambers of your heart. Large atrial septal defects can damage your heart and result in a shortened life span. Surgery is usually necessary to repair atrial septal defects.
A ventricular septal defect is an opening in the ventricular septum, or dividing wall between the two lower chambers of the heart known as the right and left ventricles. A ventricular septal defect allows oxygen-rich blood to pass from the left ventricle through the opening in the septum, and then mix with oxygen-poor blood in the right ventricle. Most babies with ventricular septal defects need to have surgery to repair the defect. which are repaired early in life don't have any significant long-term problems.
On top of the risk of septal defects is the risk of persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN) for those mothers who ingested Paxil during their third trimester. A study published the The New England Journal of Medicine concluded that the rate of PPHN in babies whose mother used an SSRI antidepressant, like Paxil, after the 20th week of pregnancy was six fold over those babies whose mothers did not take an antidepressant.
At Pogust Braslow & Millrood, protecting our clients is our primary goal. We recognize that drug companies are under an obligation to warn about the known risks of their products. When they fail to do so, they may be held responsible for the injuries or deaths that are the consequence of their inaction. In addition, doctors may be responsible when they prescribe a medication for an unapproved condition or fail to warn or monitor regarding a particular risk and the patient suffers a serious side effect.
If you or someone you love has ingested an antidepressant while pregnant and had a child with birth defects, please immediately contact the attorneys at Pogust Braslow & Millrood, where Protecting Consumers Is Our Primary Goal. Just fill out this form, click here to send us an email or call us at (610) 941-4204.
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