A dozen birth defect lawsuits were filed by plaintiffs who used Lexapro or Celexa while pregnant and later gave birth to children with congenital birth defects.

These lawsuits have claimed that Forest Pharmaceuticals was aware of the birth defect risk associated with its drugs and failed to adequately warn against their dangers. This group of lawsuits is one of many that have been filed against drug manufacturers that allegedly failed to warn  users their drugs could lead to life-altering birth defects.

The 12 lawsuits were filed by women on behalf on their children who were all allegedly born with Celexa or Lexapro birth defects. Lexapro and Celexa are antidepressants in a category know as  selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI). While women are able to take SSRI drugs before pregnancy without putting their child at risk, many, including these plaintiffs, have found that antidepressants caused their child to be born with a birth defect.

Forest Pharmaceuticals and other drug manufacturers have been accused of failing to warn against the risk of birth defects. Many women say they would not have taken the drug during pregnancy had they known the developing fetus was at risk.

These birth defect lawsuits claimed Forest was was not only aware of the risk of congenital birth defects but that the company also marketed its SSRI drugs to women in their child-bearing years (which includes pregnant women). Even though the warning labels have changed multiple times since these drugs were introduced to the market (as reports of adverse side effects were reported to the FDA), the risk of birth defects is still not included of the warning label of Lexapro or Celexa.

The defendant’s negligence allegedly caused the plaintiffs (and their children) to suffer from physical harm, emotional stress, unexpected expenses, and more.

SSRI drugs include popular names like Zoloft, Prozac, and Cymbalta.These drugs have been suggested to cause the following congenital birth defects in some children:

• Spina bifida
• Craniosynostosis (skull defect or head malformation)
• Cleft lip
• Cleft palate
• Club foot
• Heart damage
• Heart defect
• Internal malformation such as omphalocele
• PPHN (persistent pulmonary hypertension)
• Lung defect

Studies have supported the allegations that Lexapro and Celexa can increase the risk of a child being born with a birth defect if the mother is taking the drug while pregnant. One study found that children whose mothers take antidepressants during the first trimester are 60% more likely to be born with a birth defect.

Birth defect lawsuits may help you win compensation to pay for the  pain and suffering caused by a drug manufacturer’s negligence and to pay for any medical costs, cost of future care, and more.