SSRI Use Linked to Bicuspid Aortic Valve Side Effects in Newborns

Did you know that SSRI antidepressant drugs such as Paxil & Zoloft have been linked to an increased risk of birth complications including bicuspid aortic valve heart defects in the children of women who took SSRIs while pregnant? A bicuspid aortic valve is a congenital heart defect that occurs when the aortic valve only has two leaflets, instead of three. This aortic valve regulates blood flow from the heart into the aorta, the major blood vessel that brings blood to the body.

New England Journal of Medicine Study on SSRI Antidepressant Side Effects

A study published by the New England Journal of Medicine found that the children of women taking antidepressant drugs like Paxil and Zoloft while pregnant were at an increased risk of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN). Children born with PPHN suffer from circulatory problems that can lead to respiratory failure shortly after birth. Paxil may also be linked to other types of congenital birth defects including cardiomyopathy, craniosynostosis, omphalocele, patent ductus arteriosus, tricuspid stenosis, bicuspid aortic valve, hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), hypoplastic right heart syndrome (HRHS), a cleft mitral valve, spina bifida, and anencephaly (club foot).

Which Antidepressant Drugs are SSRIs?

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) include the following medications:

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

Other Birth Defects Linked to Antidepressants

In addition to those mentioned above, other birth defects linked to antidepressants may include:

• Valve Problems – malformed or stuck and won’t close
• 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 SSRI Bicuspid Aortic Valve Heart Defect Lawsuit?

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

Free SSRI Birth Defect Case Evaluation: If you or a loved one has taken an SSRI such as Paxil or Zoloft during pregnancy and given birth to a child with birth defects, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a lawsuit and we can help.