Paxil Birth Defects and PPHN Litigation
Since September, 2005 information has been emerging that 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 Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants such as Zoloft, Celexa, Effexor, Lexapro, Symbyax and Prozac, as well.
Heart Defects: The FDA issued a Public Health Advisory for Paxil on December 8, 2005 based on U.S. and Swedish studies showing that exposure to Paxil in the first trimester of pregnancy may be associated with an increased risk of heart defects. Most of the cardiac defects observed in these studies were atrial or ventricular septal defects, conditions in which the wall between the right and left sides of the heart is not completely developed. In general, septal defects are one of the most common types of congenital malformations.
PPHN: On July 19, 2006 the FDA issued another Public Health Advisory for Celexa (citalopram), Fluvoxamine, Lexapro (escitalopram), Paxil (paroxetine), Prozac (fluoxetine), Symbyax (olanzapine and fluoxetine) and Zoloft (sertraline) based on a study that suggests there may be additional risks of SSRI medications during pregnancy. In this study PPHN was six times more common in babies whose mothers took an SSRI antidepressant after the 20th week of the pregnancy compared to babies whose mothers did not take an antidepressant.
Persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN) is a serious and life-threatening lung condition that occurs soon after birth of the newborn. Babies with PPHN have high pressure in their lung blood vessels and are not able to get enough oxygen into their bloodstream. About 1 to 2 babies per 1000 babies born in the U.S. develop PPHN shortly after birth, and often they need intensive medical care.
If you or a family member was placed on Paxil during pregnancy and the child was born with a birth defect or PPHN, contact White & Wetherall today for a free consultation.
