Congenital heart defects are the most common birth defects, affecting nearly 40,000 infants born in the United States each year and are responsible for more deaths in the first year of life than any other birth defects.

In the United States, more than 1 million adults are living with congenital heart defects. While some causes of birth defects are often not known, many antidepressant drugs are linked to congenital birth defects.

Congenital heart birth defects are problems with the heart’s structure that are present at birth. Congenital heart defects change the normal flow of blood through the heart. There are many types of congenital heart defects ranging from simple to very complex. These defects can involve:

• The interior walls of the heart
• The valves inside the heart
• The arteries and veins that carry blood to the heart or the body
• Changing the normal flow of blood through the heart.

Symptoms of Congenital Heart Defects

Although many heart defects have few or no symptoms, some do. Severe defects can cause symptoms such as:

• Rapid breathing
• A bluish tint to skin, lips, and fingernails (cyanosis)
• Fatigue
• Poor blood circulation

Types of Congenital Defects

With congenital heart defects, some part of the heart doesn’t form properly before birth. This changes the normal flow of blood through the heart. There are many types of congenital heart defects. Examples include:

• Septal defects (holes in the heart)
• Patent Ductus Arteriosus (abnormal blood flow between the aorta and pulmonary artery)
• Narrowed valves
• Tetralogy of Fallot
• Pulmonary valve stenosis

Many of these congenital defects are simple conditions. They need no treatment or are easily fixed. Some defects require special medical care soon after birth. Most people who have complex heart defects continue to need special heart care throughout their lives. They may need to pay special attention to how their condition affects issues such as health insurance, employment, birth control and pregnancy, and other issues.

Antidepressants and Congenital Heart Defects

SSRI antidepressants work by boosting serotonin levels in the brain, resulting in the regulation of mood, sleep and appetite. When women take antidepressants while pregnant, there is a risk their babies may be born with serious heart defects. SSRI antidepressants like Zoloft, Prozac, Paxil, Lexapro and Celexa have been linked to serious congenital heart defects.

If your child was born with a congenital heart birth defect, and you believe an SSRI, including Celexa, Lexapro, Paxil, Prozac, or Zoloft, might be to blame, you may be eligible to file a birth defects lawsuit against the manufacturers of these medications.