SSRI Birth Defects

Pregnancy and SSRI Use

SSRI Use in Pregnancy May Put Newborns at Risk for Birth Defects

SSRI use in pregnancy can reportedly put newborns at risk for serious birth defects of the heart, abdomen and skull. While the risk of SSRI birth defects is low, recent studies suggest that these types of antidepressant drugs allow too much serotonin to remain in the area where cells of the fetus develop, potentially putting the child at risk for birth defects. Although most of these medications include a warning about SSRI use in pregnancy, many SSRI lawsuits have alleged that these warnings are inadequate.

Did you use an SSRI during pregnancy? If your child was born with a birth defect, you may be entitled to financial compensation. To find out if a SSRI birth defects lawsuit is an option for you and your family, complete our no cost, no obligation case review today.

SSRIs and Pregnancy

To assess the risk of injury to a fetus, the FDA assigns drugs into pregnancy categories. The agency has established five pregnancy category warnings, A, B, C, D, and X, with A being the weakest warning and X the strongest. Most SSRI drugs are classified into pregnancy category C or D; drugs classified into pregnancy category C may cause fetal harm according to animal research, while SSRIs listed under pregnancy category D may cause harm to a fetus based on studies in humans.

SSRI Use in Pregnancy: FDA Warnings

In addition to informing the public about the risks associated with SSRI use in pregnancy, the FDA also releases safety announcements when it learns of new research or harmful side effects, such as SSRI birth defects. In December of 2005, the agency warned that infants born to women treated with Paxil during pregnancy had an increased risk of developing cardiovascular SSRI birth defects, such as ventricular septal defects (VSD) and atrial septal defects (ASD). Then, in July 2006, the FDA warned that women who use SSRIs during pregnancy after their 20th week had a six times greater risk for delivering a child with persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN), a condition which causes breathing and lung problems, than those who didn't take these antidepressants during pregnancy.

SSRI Lawsuits for Birth Defects

While the FDA has advised the public on SSRI use in pregnancy, manufacturers are also required to provide consumers with information on the side effects of their medications, including those in pregnant women. When they fail to warn patients about risks associated with SSRIs and pregnancy, they may be liable for any resulting damages. If you took Zoloft, Celexa, Lexapro, Paxil or another SSRI during pregnancy and delivered a child with a birth defect, you may have legal recourse. To find out if you can seek financial compensation through an SSRI birth defects lawsuit, contact us today for a free, no obligation review of your claim.