Ashley Milano  |  September 26, 2014

Category: Legal News

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Zoloft birth defects lawsuit

The antidepressant medication Cymbalta (duloxetine) has been associated with a possible increased risk of birth defects and life-threatening complications at birth.

Birth defects associated with Cymbalta include heart and lung defects, spina bifida, cleft lip/palate, clubfoot and persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN).

However, these Cymbalta birth defect risks were not passed on to consumers, according to numerous Cymbalta birth defect lawsuits that accuse Eli Lilly, the manufacturer of Cymbalta of negligently marketing, manufacturing, and selling these drugs to women.

Cymbalta is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) antidepressant prescribed for the treatment of major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, peripheral neuropathy, diabetic neuropathy, and osteoarthritis pain. The drug is also commonly prescribed to patients suffering from fibromyalgia. These type of drugs have been linked to serious side effects when taken by the mothers during pregnancy.

Expectant mothers suffering from depression and other serious psychological disorders often find themselves having to choose between the lesser of two evils. Should they use an antidepressant like Cymbalta and risk having a child born with major birth defects, or not take the medicine and risk the emotional and hormonal trauma that could also end up harming the baby? Unfortunately, there is no easy answer to this dilemma, as numerous medical studies have uncovered a troubling link between antidepressants like Cymbalta and birth defects. Some key study findings used in Cymbalta birth defect lawsuits include:

  • A 2006 study published in Epidemiology found that Cymbalta birth defects were three times more likely to occur in women who take Cymbalta while pregnant.
  • A study published in the 2006 New England Journal of Medicine reported that newborns of pregnant women taking Cymbalta in their third trimester of pregnancy were six times more likely (than infants of mothers not taking an SSRI or SSNRI) to develop a critical, potentially life-threatening lung condition known as persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN).
  • Another 2006 study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology found that one-third of women included in the study who took SSRIs during pregnancy experienced some form of birth complication, including having a fetus die, premature delivery, having newborns with seizures, or delivering an underweight baby.
  • Other studies have reported finding a link between taking the drug during pregnancy and a newborn developing the following types of birth defects: Autism, club foot, cranial deformities that can cause intracranial pressure, blindness, stroke, or brain damage, heart deformities, limb deformities, pulmonary stenosis, and spina bifida.

Cymbalta Birth Defect Lawsuits

Cymbalta birth defects can require multiple surgeries and other expensive medical care that places a financial burden on the child’s family. There is concern that the Cymbalta label does not adequately warn about the risk of serious fetal complications when it is used during pregnancy. Many parents have successfully sued drug manufacturers for failing to warn about these birth defect risks. Cymbalta birth defect lawsuit settlements have provided compensation for medical expenses and other damages resulting from these drug companies’ negligence.

If you took Cymbalta while pregnant and your child was born with a birth defect such as spina bifida, cleft lip, cleft palate, club foot, heart or lung damage, or PPHN you may have a legal claim.

Help for Victims of Cymbalta Birth Defects

If you, or someone you care about had a child with severe birth defects after using Cymbalta, you have almost certainly been through a trying ordeal. Serious birth defects force parents to emotionally shift gears from joy at a new child’s birth to concern and strain as they struggle to cope with the new reality of the situation. In addition to the emotional challenges of such a situation, parents face very tangible financial strains, such as hospital bills, lost wages, and possibly the cost of ongoing medical care. When facing such challenges, many people feel overwhelmed, or even depressed.

But you need to remember that regardless of the challenges you’ve found yourself facing, you still have rights, and there are steps that you can take to regain a measure of control over your situation. You can start by obtaining a free case evaluation from a skilled birth defect lawyer by filling out the form on this page now.

In general, birth defect lawsuits are filed individually by each plaintiff and are not class actions.

Do YOU have a legal claim? Fill out the form on this page now for a free, immediate, and confidential case evaluation. The attorneys who work with Top Class Actions will contact you if you qualify to let you know if an individual lawsuit or class action lawsuit is best for you. Hurry — statutes of limitations may apply.

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Join a Free Birth Defect Lawsuit Investigation

If you or a loved one took Zoloft, Prozac, Lexapro, Effexor, Celexa, Cymbalta or Depakote during pregnancy and gave birth to a child with a congenital defect, you may have a legal claim against the drug’s manufacturer. Find out if you qualify to pursue compensation for your child’s medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other damages by filling out the form below now.

An attorney will contact you if you qualify to discuss the details of your potential case.

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Please note: Top Class Actions is not a settlement administrator or law firm. Top Class Actions is a legal news source that reports on class action lawsuits, class action settlements, drug injury lawsuits and product liability lawsuits. Top Class Actions does not process claims and we cannot advise you on the status of any class action settlement claim. You must contact the settlement administrator or your attorney for any updates regarding your claim status, claim form or questions about when payments are expected to be mailed out.