In a series of articles, several women are speaking out about the effects that prescription SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) have had on their children. All of the women were told at the time of their pregnancies that although taking antidepressants posed some risks, the benefits outweighed the risks. They know now that medical professionals were not yet aware of the real possibilities of birth defects among SSRI users.
It wasn't until 2005 that the FDA released public warnings that SSRIs such as Paxil and Zoloft could cause heart defects, pulmonary hypertension of a newborn, lung disorders, and more. Since then, many women have realized that using anti-depressants was the most likely cause of their children's health problems.
Ellen, a mother of four, took Paxil for depression in the late 1990s while pregnant with her two younger children. At the time, both her and her doctor believed that the drugs were safe, but unfortunately, both children were born with heart murmurs. Looking back, Ellen realizes now that Paxil was responsible for the defects.
Like Ellen, April was also taking prescription Paxil during both of her pregnancies. Her children were born premature, the eldest with a heart murmur. Her younger son, Jordon, was diagnosed with what doctors initially believed to be tremors, but later they told April they were unable to define his health problems. Jordon did not start talking until he was 5 years old and has continued to struggle with speech.
With the evidence of SSRI birth defects becoming more defined in recent years, April has found similar cases of children suffering heart, lung, and speech problems due to SSRI use during pregnancy. In addition to the public warning, the FDA has put Paxil in its second highest category for birth defects, advising patients not to use while pregnant or if a woman plans to become pregnant.
In a 2008 study published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, researchers reported that the risk of heart defects during pregnancy was three times the normal percentage if women took Prozac or Paxil during the first trimesters. The study examined over 800 women, and the results have identified other drugs such as Zoloft, Celexa, and Lexapro.
As of right now, the internet is the leading source of information on SSRI birth defects, which has proved beneficial to families who have been seeking answers to explain their children's health defects. Some are seeking legal help, and others are speaking out so that other women will know the potentially lifelong problems associated with SSRI birth defects.
Every year, about 3% of babies are born with a birth defect. Unfortunately, some of these cases are the results of medical error or negligence. If your child's life was forever changed due to an avoidable error or the actions of your doctor, you have a legal right to seek damages from the parties responsible. The knowledgeable Birth Injury Attorneys at Page Cagle are available 24/7 to help you build a case and fight for the compensation that you and your child deserve.