Women taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant medications, such as Lexapro and Paxil, during pregnancy are at an increased risk of having a child with birth defects.
Because the manufacturer of several of these medications failed to provide an adequate warning about the risks associated with these drugs, our Cincinnati SSRI lawyers could help you seek compensation. Contact the experienced class action attorneys at O'Connor, Acciani and Levy today for a free, no obligation consultation to find out if you can file an SSRI lawsuit.
TYPES OF SSRIS
The first SSRI was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1988. Since that time there have been a number of SSRIs released onto the market, several of which have had lawsuits filed against the manufacturers for failure to warn about dangerous side effects.
As experienced lawyers dedicated to fighting for the rights of the injured, our Cincinnati attorneys are currently investigating or pursuing cases on behalf of women whose children were born with birth defects after the mother took an SSRI during pregnancy.
If you or someone you love has taken one of these SSRI antidepressants and gave birth to an injured child, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact our
experienced team today to learn more about your right to file an SSRI lawsuit.
SSRI BIRTH DEFECTS
Research has found that SSRIs are linked to an increased risk of a number of birth defects in children whose mothers took one of these medications during pregnancy.
Autism
Although all antidepressants taken during pregnancy are now linked to an increased risk of autism in children, studies show that the risk is greatly increased in children whose mother took an SSRI during pregnancy.
A study published in
JAMA Pediatrics in 2015 showed that SSRIs increased a baby’s risk of developing autism by 200 percent, compared to 87 percent with other antidepressants.
Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN)
PPHN is a rare condition that affects a newborn’s lungs and heart and can prevent a child from being able to breathe outside of the womb. This is one of the most severe birth defects associated with SSRIs.
The FDA issued an advisory in 2006 and then a
safety communication in 2011 about the link between PPHN and SSRIs.
Heart Defects
One study found that women taking SSRIs during pregnancy had a 60 percent increased chance of delivering a baby with heart defects compared to those who had not taken an SSRI.
Prozac, a commonly prescribed SSRI has been linked to cardiac malformations in unborn children and newborns. In January 2011, the manufacturer of the drug issued a product statement update admitting of the risks of a baby developing septal defects, or holes in the wall of the heart, before birth.
Anencephaly
A study presented in a 2007 New England Journal of Medicine identified a link between SSRIs and neural tube defects such as anencephaly, omphalocele and craniosynostosis that occur during early development of the fetus.
Craniosynostosis and anencephaly include malformations of the skull and brain, which can lead to death. Omphalocele involves a child’s liver, stomach and intestines being forced out of place through an abdominal hole.
Many of these birth defects are life-threatening or life-changing and will require expensive and long-term medical treatment. Through an SSRI lawsuit in Cincinnati, our attorneys can help you get the compensation you need to cover these and other expenses associated with your child’s injury.
FILE AN SSRI LAWSUIT TODAY WITH A CINCINNATI ATTORNEY
If you or someone you love took SSRI antidepressants during pregnancy and delivered a child with birth defects, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact our Cincinnati SSRI lawyers today to learn more about your legal options and to find out if you are entitled to file a class action lawsuit.
We offer our legal services on a contingency fee basis and do not charge any upfront costs. In most cases, you will not owe us anything unless you recover compensation.
