SSRI Birth Defect Risks May Include Autism, Study Says

• Neural tube defects
• Septal heart defects
• Spina bifida
• Skull malformations
• Abdominal birth defects
• Atrial septal defects
• Cardiac defects

Antidepressant use during pregnancy has also been linked to other problems such as lower IQ, impaired coordination and other cognitive disorders.

Women Who Take SSRIs During Pregnancy May Have Children with Autism

According to a recent study published in the British Medical Journal, women who take SSRI antidepressants during pregnancy may experience twice the risk of giving birth to a child with autism.

In the study, Swedish researchers compared data on nearly 4,500 people with autism spectrum disorders. The results showed that women who took any type of antidepressant during pregnancy were twice as likely to have a child with autism. Further, there was no significant difference between SSRI antidepressants and non-SSRIs. Analysis of the data suggests that 1 in 167 cases of autism may be related to a mother’s use of antidepressants during pregnancy.

The results of the Swedish study are consistent with results from a 2011 study by the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research in Oakland, California, which also found that women who took antidepressants during pregnancy had twice the risk of having a baby with autism.

Lawsuits Allege Manufacturers Failed to Warn of SSRI Birth Defect Risk

These SSRI birth defects often require the child to undergo repeated surgeries and experience continued medical supervision. This level of medical care can cost a family hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical expenses. In many cases, the child will never be able to live a normal life, even after surgery. Numerous lawsuits have been filed against drug manufacturers by women who claim that the companies failed to warn about the dangers of SSRI birth defects.

If you gave birth to a child with birth defects after taking an SSRI antidepressant such as Zoloft, Paxil or Prozac during pregnancy, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the drug manufacturer. If you win your case, you could be able to recover compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other damages you experienced because of your child’s SSRI birth defects.

To learn more about your legal options, go to the Zoloft, Paxil, Celexa, Lexapro & Prozac SSRI Antidepressant Birth Defect Class Action Lawsuit Investigation. When you submit information about your child’s SSRI birth defects, an attorney will conduct a free case evaluation to determine whether you have a cause of action.