Effective Antidepressants May Cause Major Birth Defects

SSRIs are prescribed primarily to treat mental depression, personality disorders, and anxiety, but because of their effectiveness and lack of severe side effects compared to other antidepressants, SSRIs have become the most commonly prescribed antidepressant for all age groups, including children and adolescents.

However, recent studies suggest SSRI side effects may include serious birth defects, causing health problems for infants and young children. SSRI cardiac birth defects that have been linked to Zoloft, Prozac, Paxil and Lexapro include:

• Septal defect (atrial and ventricular): Occurs when a hole develops in the wall of the infant’s heart, leading to improper blood circulation and causing the heart to work harder than it should to pump blood.
• Tetralogy of Fallot: The patient experiences narrowing of the pulmonary valve, ventricular septal defect, dilated aorta connected to the left and right ventricles, and thickening of the right ventricle. Blood may not be properly oxygenated before being circulated throughout the body.
• Hypoplastic left heart: When the left side of the infant’s heart does not develop fully.
• Hypoplastic right heart: When the right side of the infant’s heart does not develop fully.

Non-cardiac birth defects linked to SSRI antidepressants include:

• Spina bifida: Occurs when the spinal cord and backbone do not close or develop properly.
• Cleft palate: Occurs when the separate parts of the skull forming the roof of the mouth do not join properly.
• Club foot: Occurs when the infant’s bones, joints, muscles and blood vessels develop abnormally, resulting in the foot being turned inward and downward.

Despite the serious birth defects that could come from taking drugs like Zoloft and Paxil, their wide use still continues with pregnant users due to their effectiveness.

SSRIs have been approved by the FDA for the treatment of other disorders including:

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Generalized anxiety disorder
• Panic disorder
• Social anxiety disorder or social phobia
• Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) or premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Bulimia nervosa, an eating disorder

SSRIs often are prescribed for other “off-label” uses including:

• Mania
• Menopause-related symptoms such as hot flashes
• Geriatric depression
• Loss of mental abilities in the elderly
• Nicotine withdrawal
• Alcoholism
• Premature ejaculation

If you are pregnant or are thinking of becoming pregnant, you may be prescribed one of the following popular SSRI antidepressants:

• Prozac (fluoxetine)
• Paxil (paroxetine)
• Zoloft (sertraline)
• Symbyax (fluoxetine or olanzapine)
• Celexa (citalopram)
• Lexapro (escitalopram)

This is not a complete list of drugs. Talk to your doctor if you are currently taking any kind of antidepressant and are considering getting pregnant, or are currently pregnant and are worried about potential birth defects.

Legal Help for SSRI Birth Defects

If you believe that you or a loved one has been the victim of an SSRI birth defect, you have legal options. Please visit the Zoloft, Paxil, Celexa, Lexapro, Depakote & Prozac SSRI Antidepressant Birth Defect Class Action Lawsuit Investigation. There, you can submit your claim for a free legal review and if it qualifies for legal action, a seasoned SSRI birth defect lawyer will contact you for a free, no-obligation consultation. You will be guided through the litigation process at no out-of-pocket expenses or hidden fees. The birth defect attorneys working this investigation do not get paid until you do.