Celexa Warning Label Update: Potential Risk of Abnormal Heart Rhythms

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In addition to having the potential to cause a large number of severe birth defects, Celexa (generic: citalopram) has also recently been associated with potentially dangerous electrical abnormalities of the heart in certain users. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) is updating its dosing and warning recommendations for Celexa to accurately reflect this risk. Celexa belongs to a controversial class of potentially-dangerous antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

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

What’s the problem?

March 28, 2012 - The FDA issued a press release today stating that it was in the process of clarifying dosing and warning recommendations for the widely-prescribed SSRI antidepressant Celexa. In August 2011, the administration warned that Celexa should no longer be used at doses greater than 40 mg per day because it could cause potentially dangerous heart rhythm abnormalities. Due to the risk of QT prolongation, Celexa use at any dose is now discouraged in patients with the following conditions:

• congenital long QT syndrome
• bradycardia
• hypokalemia
• hypomagnesemia
• recent acute myocardial infarction
• uncompensated heart failure

Celexa labels have been updated with information describing the particular caution that needs to be taken when the drug is used in patients with these conditions. The new warning label also describes lower doses that should be used in patients over the age of 60.

Additionally, the FDA is recommending a maximum dose of 20 mg per day of Celexa in patients:

• with hepatic impairment
• who are older than 60 years of age
• who are CYP 2C19 poor metabolizers
• who are taking concomitant cimetidine (Tagamet) or another CYP2C19 inhibitor
• 
These factors may lead to increased blood levels of Celexa, increasing the risk of QT interval prolongation and Torsade de Pointes.

Celexa Birth Defects

In addition to having the potential to cause potentially-dangerous heart rhythm abnormalities in users, Celexa may also cause the following birth defects in babies born to mothers who take the drug during pregnancy (especially during the first trimester, a time when many women may still be unaware they are pregnant):

• 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 You Have a Celexa 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 Celexa lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new birth defect cases in all 50 states.

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