Antidepressants Linked to Seizures, Premature Births

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Add two new problems to the growing list of birth defects linked to antidepressant medications. A new study suggests that women who take selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants during pregnancy are more likely to give birth prematurely, or have babies who have seizures shortly after being born. FDA-approved medications from the SSRI class include Paxil, Prozac, Lexapro and Celexa.

Free Antidepressant Birth Defects Lawsuit Evaluation: If you or a loved one has a child who was diagnosed with birth defects after being exposed to an antidepressant drug in the womb, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a suit against the manufacturer of antidepressant and we can help.

What’s the problem?

May 30, 2012 – The new study, which was published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, identified nearly 229,000 babies born to Tennessee women who took SSRI antidepressants during pregnancy. The research found that mothers who filled two or three prescriptions during their second trimester tended to have babies that stayed in the womb four to five days less than other babies. Additionally, neonates were more likely to have a seizure if their mother used an SSRI during the third trimester.

SSRIs are some of the most widely-prescribed drugs on the planet, and include:

• Paxil (Paroxetine)
• Zoloft (Sertraline)
• Celexa (Citalopram)
• Prozac (Fluoxetine)
• Lexapro (Escitalopram)
• Symbyax (fluoxetine and olanzapine)
• Wellbutrin (Bupropion)
• Effexor (Venlafaxine)

In light of the many risks posed by the maternal use of antidepressants during pregnancy, a growing movement within the medical community is urging expecting mothers to consider other avenues for the treatment of their depression. “Stopping antidepressants during pregnancy if possible is the safest bet,” says Dr. Richard C. Shelton, a professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. “Basic recommendation is that if a woman can come off antidepressants, that’s probably the best course to take,” Shelton told Reuters Health.

Which other birth defects have been linked to SSRIs?

In addition to the risk of seizures and premature birth, antidepressants from the SSRI class have been linked to the following birth defects:

• Atrial Septal Defects (ASD)
• Ventricular Septal Defects (VSD)
• Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN)
• Tricuspid Valve (Ebstein’s Anomaly)
• Mitral Valve Prolapse
• Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA)
• Transposition of the Great Vessels (TGV)
• Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF)
• Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS)
• Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome (HRHS)
• Tricuspid Atresia
• Aortic Stenosis
• Pulmonary Atresia (PA)
• Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)
• Coarctation of the Aorta
• Truncus Arteriosus
• Tricuspid Valve Stenosis
• Heart Murmur
• Pulmonary Stenosis
• Gastroschisis – abdominal wall defect
• Esophageal Stenosis
• Clubfoot
• Anal Atresia
• Spina Bifida

Do I Have an Antidepressant Birth Defects Lawsuit?

The Product Liability & Defective Drug Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus on the representation of plaintiffs in antidepressant lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new birth defects cases in all 50 states.

Free Antidepressant Birth Defects Lawsuit Evaluation: If you or a loved one has a child who was diagnosed with birth defects after being exposed to an antidepressant drug in the womb, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a antidepressant birth defects suit and we can help.