A particular class of antidepressants known as SNRIs (serotonin norepinepherine reuptake inhibitors) has been linked to birth defects in babies. SNRIs are commonly prescribed antidepressants, and some drugs in this class include Cymbalta (duloxetene), Effexor (venlafaxine) and Pristiq (desvenlafaxine).

Many women are not adequately warned of the risks of antidepressants from their doctors once they become pregnant. Doctors are expected to weigh the risks and benefits of antidepressant medication for pregnant women, deciding if the women will be more at risk for serious issues off or on a drug if they have been prone to Major Depressive Disorder or have a history or suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

More often than not, a detailed conversation between a woman and her physician weighing the pros and cons of continuing on an antidepressant does not take place. Having such conversations with a doctor before a woman is trying to conceive is even more rare, and that is when the decision should actually be made. By the time a woman is early on in her pregnancy, it may in fact be too late to prevent any birth defects from antidepressant medications.

Effexor and Birth Defects

Effexor (venlafaxine) is an SNRI antidepressant that works by blocking the receptors that typically absorb the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinepherine back into the body. By blocking these serotonin and norepinepherine receptors, Effexor allows the neurotransmitters to be more available and thus balances brain chemistry to reduce symptoms of depression.

Another class of antidepressants, called SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) are more commonly prescribed and as the name suggests, these drugs only work on the serotonin receptors.

Many women have reported a number of serious and varied types of birth defects following the usage of Effexor. These common birth defects reported by women taking Effexor include:

• Cleft lip/cleft palate- palate (roof of mouth) and upper lip do not fuse together
• Club foot- foot deformity affecting one foot or both feet
• Down Syndrome- a genetic condition where there is an additional chromosome. Symptoms may be mild to severe.
• Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH)- Diaphragm is malformed and abdominal organs herniate (push through) into the lung
• Septal defects “hole in the heart” and ventricular septal defect (VSD)- defects in heart structure which can be mild to severe.
• Neural tube defects- defects of the brain and spinal cord which are not fully developed
• Undescended testes in males- testes do not descend into the scrotum before birth.

Effexor Birth defect Lawsuit Information

As women encounter these birth defects in their children, they feel hopeless and often believe that the drug manufacturer did not provide enough information to warn them about the terrible congenital defects their babies have had to endure. Several lawsuits have been filed against Pfizer, the manufacturer of Effexor for this very reason.

If you have taken Effexor while pregnant and have had a baby born with a severe birth defect, such as those listed above, you may be entitled to compensation.

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