SSRI/Anti-Depressant Birth Defects

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reported that a number of studies have suggested a link between common anti-depressants and serious birth defects. Research has shown that a number of birth defects are caused by SSRIs which are more commonly referred to as anti-depressants. SSRI stands for Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitor which is a class of drugs used mainly to treat depression but also used to treat other conditions. When SSRIs are taken during pregnancy they often lead to serious birth defects.

The more common anti-depressants and their generic equivalents are:

• Celexa/citalopram
• Effexor/venlafaxine
• Zoloft/sertraline
• Prozac/fluoxetine
• Paxil/paroxetine

These prescription drugs are primarily prescribed for depression, anxiety, bulimia, anorexia, post- traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive compulsive disorder(OCD), migraines, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. However, SSRIs/anti-depressants are prescribed for a wide range of conditions and it is irrelevant why they were prescribed. The only important fact is that they were prescribed for use during pregnancy.

One of the most serious birth defects known to be caused by SSRIs is Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN). PPHN affects a newborn’s heart and lungs and can result in multiple organ damage, brain damage and death. Separate from PPHN SSRIs can cause developmental heart defects by causing septal defects or holes in the walls of the heart. SSRIs have been linked to neural tube defects and malformation of the skull and brain which usually results in death a short period after birth. A more commonly known birth defect is cleft palate/lip. SSRIs also cause and increased incidence of autism.

If you or a loved one took an anti-depressant for any reason during pregnancy and your child was born with and SSRI related birth defect you should contact us. We may be able to help you obtain compensation.

Experienced trial attorneys always get the best settlements for their injury clients. After more than thirty-seven years and thousands of personal injury cases there is virtually nothing that we haven't seen and successfully handled.

There is no substitute for experience. If you want the assistance of an experienced Board Certified Personal Injury Attorney in the Tyler / Longview / East Texas area contact us today.