Birth Defect Attorney
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are some of the most popular and well-known antidepressants, such as Prozac and Paxil. They are prescribed for many conditions other than depression. SSRIs can cause serious and fatal birth defects in the babies of women who take them. If your child has a birth defect and you took an SSRI during pregnancy, please talk to a birth injury attorney right away.
Examples of SSRIs
Prozac hit the U.S. market in 1987, and became wildly popular. Dangerous side effects quickly came to light. Today several SSRIs are available including:
- Celexa (citalopram)
- Lexapro (escitalopram)
- Luvox (fluvoxamine)
- Paxil (paroxetine)
- Prozac (fluoxetine)
- Symbyax (fluoxetine and olanzapine)
- Zoloft (sertraline)
SSRI Birth Defects
SSRI birth defects can include:
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Heart abnormalities
- Craniosynostosis (skull defect)
- Omphalocele – a condition in which the abdominal organs are on the outside of the body
- Neural tube defects, including spina bifida and anencephaly
- Oral clefts
- Limb defects
- Club foot
- Anal atresia
- Persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN)
- Premature birth
- SSRI withdrawal in newborns
Congenital Heart Defects
Heart birth defects caused by SSRIs include:
- Atrial septal defects and ventral septal defects (holes in the heart)
- Hypoplastic left heart syndrome
- Hypoplastic right heart syndrome
- Cleft mitral valve
- Tricuspid stenosis
- Bicuspid aortic valve
- Patent ductus arteriosus
- Cardiomyopathy
- Tetralogy of fallot
SSRI Uses
SSRIs are prescribed to treat many conditions, including mood disorders and pain. Many SSRI uses are off-label meaning that they are not specifically approved for those purposes by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Among the conditions that SSRIs are prescribed to treat are:
- Depression
- Bipolar disorder
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Anxiety disorder
- Panic disorder
- Eating disorders
- Premenstrual dysphoric disorder
- Diabetic neuropathy
- Tourette syndrome
- Arthritis
- Lower back pain
- Pelvic pain
- Fibromyalgia
- Other chronic pain
- Central serous retinopathy
If you or someone you love has been injured by birth defect, please call our birth defect attorney at 1-877-LOSS-RECOVER (567-7732) or submit an online questionnaire. The initial consultation with a birth defect attorney is free of charge, and if we agree to handle your case, in most cases we will work on a contingency fee basis, which means we get paid for our services only if there is a monetary recovery of funds. In many cases, a personal injury lawsuit must be filed before an applicable expiration date, known as a statute of limitations. Please call right away to ensure that you do not waive your right to possible compensation.