How Significant is the Risk of Taking SSRIs While Pregnant?
By Christina Drury
Depression is a major problem in the United States, with millions of Americans suffering from the disorder and taking medication to help alleviate their symptoms. A class of medications that is prescribed to those suffering from depression and similar psychological disorders is known as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor – or SSRI, for short. While these medications help to relieve the existing symptoms of depression, they may cause far more damage if they are taken by a pregnant woman. With SSRI use up at least 400% in the last several years, it is a very valid concern that warrants investigation.
What SSRIs have been linked to Birth Defects?
It is not just a single medication that has come under scrutiny. There are several SSRIs on the market that may be linked to birth defects when taken by pregnant women. These medications include but are not limited to:
- Lexapro
- Paxil
- Zoloft
- Prozac
- Celexa
The critical component that birth defect lawsuits address is the fact that the first trimester is the most important in terms of fetal development. This is where the likelihood of birth defects occurring lies. The manufacturers allege that the benefits of taking the SSRIs – even during pregnancy – far outweigh the potential risks.
Attorneys on behalf of the SSRI birth defect victims, however, have a different take. They state in numerous documents that the evaluation of the SSRIs should have been more in-depth and the effects on pregnancy evaluated long before the manufacturers lobbied to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for approval to introduce and sell the medications to women of childbearing age.
Ohio’s Department of Health (DOH) Named in Birth Defect Lawsuit
A recent birth defect lawsuit has named Ohio’s DOH as the defendant in an autism case that the plaintiffs allege was brought on by the use of SSRI antidepressants during the mother’s pregnancy. The state is denying the medical treatment that is necessary for the toddler’s treatment, which is the nature of the lawsuit. While not directly tied to the birth defect lawsuits that are being filed against the manufacturers of the SSRIs, it is a very real issue that warrants attention as these manufacturers could be held liable for medical expenses related to the necessary treatment prescribed by the physicians who handle the child’s medical treatments.
Investigation into SSRI Birth Defect Link Continues
If you suspect that your child’s birth defects or that of a loved one is linked to the use of SSRIs during pregnancy, there is help available. To view your legal options as well as more information on the birth defect lawsuits, you can visit our Zoloft, Paxil, Celexa, Lexapro & Prozac SSRI Antidepressant Birth Defect Class Action Lawsuit Investigation page. Here, you can learn about the various medications called under scrutiny as well as the current and ongoing status of birth defect lawsuits. If you want to submit your information to qualified attorneys, you can fill out the form on the page by answering a few short questions that address your concerns.
Updated January 23rd, 2013
All medical device, dangerous drug and medical class action and lawsuit news updates are listed in the Drug and Medical Device section of Top Class Actions.
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