Major depression is a life-threatening health disorder that affects as many as 10-15% of women of childbearing age. For many of these women, treatment is necessary just to get through life. This includes being able to take care of themselves with a good diet, healthy activity.  Avoiding suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Some of the most popular treatment methods for depression are Prozac®, Paxil®, or other similar drugs known as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI's). However, when women on SSRI's get pregnant, their children may be at risk for serious Prozac® & Paxil®-related birth defects that can be life-threatening.

 

If your child suffered a birth defect as a result of your use of Prozac® or Paxil®, he or she may have needed immediate medical attention and may face a lifetime of consequences. Your child deserves compensation for Prozac® & Paxil®-related birth defects, and the pharmaceutical litigation attorneys at Schlichter, Bogard & Denton are prepared to fight for you. Schedule a pharmaceutical injury consultation today to learn how we can help.

 

What Are SSRI's?

 

Exactly why and how SSRI's work to correct depression is not precisely known. We know what SSRI's do: they are chemicals that block the reuptake of serotonin in the brain, making more serotonin available to brain cells. Some research suggests serotonin levels as a key factor in many mood and other psychological disorders, including depression and anxiety. People with lower levels of serotonin tend to be more susceptible to depression and anxiety.

 

Prozac® was the first SSRI approved for sale in the US, but today there more than half a dozen SSRI's that have been approved for sale, and they appear under many different trade names. Here is a list of FDA-approved SSRI's and their most common trade names:

• Citalopram (Celexa)
• Escitalopram (Lexapro)
• Fluoxetine (Prozac®)
• Fluvoxamine (Luvox)
• Paroxetine (Paxil®)
• Sertraline (Zoloft)

 

Although the basic function of SSRI's is similar, the effectiveness of any given SSRI varies from person to person, and each SSRI seems to have unique characteristics in terms of side effects.

 

Prozac® & Paxil® Dangers

 

SSRI's such as Prozac® and Paxil® have many potential dangers, including serotonin syndrome, a rare but potentially lethal side effect caused when serotonin levels in the brain reach critical levels.

 

Recently, the danger of using some SSRI's during pregnancy has come to light. As early as 2005, the FDA issued a warning about the risk of SSRI-related birth defects among the children of women who used Paxil® during the first three months of pregnancy, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has recommended that women avoid taking Paxil® during pregnancy.

 

Two potentially serious forms of birth complications have been linked with Paxil®: heart defects and persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN). Both types of risk often require additional treatment for the child and may be deadly. Now, research suggests that Prozac® and possibly other SSRI's may carry similar risks.

 

Prozac® & Paxil® Lawsuits

 

The pharmaceutical injury attorneys at Schlichter, Bogard & Denton have many years of experience representing people who have been injured by the dangerous side effects of prescription drugs. We represent the rights of parents and children in all 50 states. If your child has suffered a birth defect as a result of Paxil®, Prozac®, or other SSRI during pregnancy, you can get compensation for your additional past and ongoing medical expenses and for the emotional trauma of an injured or lost child. Schedule a free Prozac® or Paxil® birth defect lawsuit consultation today.