Studies Link SSRI Antidepressants to Spina Bifida Birth Defects

A number of spina bifida birth defect lawsuits have been filed by mothers who took SSRIs or anti-seizure drugs during pregnancy. In many of these cases the mother was not properly warned about the potential side effect risk she was exposing her baby to prior to taking the medication. Therefore, she was unable to make an informed decision on whether or not the benefits of the drug were worth the side effect risks.

What is Spina Bifida?

Spina bifida, which in literal form means “split spine,” is caused when the spinal column does not completely close when the baby is developing in utero. This can affect both the lumbar and sacral areas of the baby’s spine.  This birth defect causes life-long disabilities.

When a baby is born with spina bifida they have a number of abnormalities in the spinal area, including the spinal cord as well as the coverings of the spinal cord.  Although the development of spina bifida does not always result in a fatality, there is currently no cure for the birth defect. Some of the issues that a baby diagnosed with spina bifida may face include the following:

• Altered skin sensation
• Bowel incontinence
• Bladder incontinence
• Depression
• Difficulty walking
• Gastrointestinal disorders
• Learning disabilities
• Mental and social problems
• Obesity
• Paralysis

SSRI Antidepressants and Spina Bifida

SSRI antidepressants, also referred to as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor antidepressants, are frequently used in an attempt to help patients restore the serotonin balance of the brain. This provides a treatment option for both depression as well as some mood disorders.  However, the use of the SSRI antidepressants in the first trimester of a pregnancy has been associated with a number of birth defects, including spina bifida. The SSRI antidepressants that have been known to cause spina bifida as well as many other birth defects include the following:

• Celexa – he brand name of citalopram, which is manufactured by Forest Labs
• Effexor – the brand name of venlafaxine, which is manufactured by Wyeth
• Lexapro – the brand name of escitalopram, which is manufactured by Forest Labs
• Pristiq – the brand name of esvenlafaxine, which is manufactured by Wyeth
• Prozac – the brand name of fluoxetine, which is manufactured by Eli Lilly
• Zoloft – the brand name of sertraline hydrochloride, which is manufactured by Pfizer

Anti-Seizure Medications and Spina Bifida Birth Defects

There was a recent study completed by the FDA that found the side effect risk of an average woman having a baby with spina bifida is around 1-in-1,500.  However, the side effect risk of a pregnant woman that used an epilepsy drug in the first trimester of her pregnancy was 1-in-20 for giving birth to a baby with spina bifida. 

Upon this information being released the FDA did add additional warnings regarding the birth defect risk of spina bifida to some of the anti-seizure medications later in 2010. The following anti-seizure drugs have been linked to causing an increased birth defect risk of spina bifida:

• Carbatrol
• Depakote
• Depacon
• Depakine
• Epitol
• Equetrol
• Stavzor
• Tegretol

There have been additional birth defects associated with many of these anti-seizure medications as well as the SSRI antidepressants. Some of these include the following:

• Abnormal skull development
• Cleft lip
• Cleft palate
• Holes in the heart
• Malformed limbs
• Urinary tract problems

If you have had a child that was diagnosed with spina bifida or another birth defect and you believe that it has been caused by a SSRI antidepressant, please visit our Zoloft, Paxil, Celexa, Lexapro & Prozac SSRI Antidepressant Birth Defect Class Action Lawsuit Investigation page. There you will find more information about filing a SSRI antidepressant class action lawsuit or an individual SSRI antidepressant birth defect lawsuit. Simply provide your information and you will receive a free legal review from a qualified SSRI birth defect attorney.