The study, recently published in the British Medical Journal, looked at the rate of persistent pulmonary hypertension, or PPHN, in babies born to women who took selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, during pregnancy. PPHN is a condition with high blood pressure in the lungs that leads to difficulties in breathing and can increase the risk for heart failure.

Normally, only one in three infants per 1,000 develop PPHN. However, researchers found a much more significant risk in women who took SSRIs during pregnancy, especially late in the fetus’ development. SSRIs include the brand names Paxil, Zoloft, Celexa, Lexapro and Prozac.

Researchers studied data that included 1.6 million births (33 weeks gestation or greater) in five Nordic countries between 1996 and 2007. A total of 1,618,255 singleton births were included in the study. Approximately 11,000 of the mothers filled prescriptions for antidepressants late in pregnancy, and about 17,000 of the mothers filled prescriptions for antidepressants in early pregnancy.

Researchers noted that out of 11,014 mothers who used SSRIs late in pregnancy, 33 babies were born with PPHN. Among the 17,053 mothers who used SSRIs during early pregnancy, 32 were born with SSRIs.

Attorneys with Beasley Allen Law Firm are currently investigating cases of birth defects of all kinds in children whose mothers took SSRIs during pregnancy.

Source: Psych Central

SOURCE: Paxil and Pregnancy › SSRI exposure late in pregnancy increases risk for PPHN

The plaintiffs allege that their children were born with varying birth defects including heart defects, neural tube defects, gastroschisis, omphalocele, craniosynostosis, cleft lip, club foot, anal atresia, and limb reduction defects. They blame the drug.

“Pfizer knew or should have known that Zoloft crosses the placenta, which could have important implications for the developing fetus,” the lawsuit states. The plaintiffs allege that Pfizer instead marketed Zoloft as the safest antidepressant to take during pregnancy.

Zoloft is in a class of antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs. Other drugs in this class include Paxil, Celexa, Lexapro, and Prozac. All SSRIs were classified as Category C pregnancy drugs, meaning that no studies have proven risks to developing fetuses. However, recent studies proving Paxil causes birth defects have required the reclassification of Paxil to a Category D pregnancy drug.

SSRIs are among the most prescribed medications in the country, and drug companies make millions off these drugs. The plaintiffs in the Zoloft lawsuit claim that Pfizer kept reports of complications in fetuses under wraps to protect its empire. The drug maker disputes these claims.

The lawsuit alleges strict products liability, breach of express warranty, negligence, misrepresentation by omission, negligent misrepresentation, fraud and misrepresentation, fraud by concealment, violation of consumer protection laws, and breach of implied warranties. The lawsuit seeks unspecified compensatory damages, statutory remedies, a disgorgement of profits and pre-judgment interests.

Attorneys with Beasley Allen Law Firm are currently investigating cases of birth defects allegedly associated with Zoloft and any other SSRI.

Source: The Madison St. Clair Record

SOURCE: Paxil and Pregnancy › Parents file birth defects lawsuit against makers of Zoloft

SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) are antidepressants that affect serotonin levels in the brain. It’s not fully understood how they work but it is thought they provide higher levels of serotonin at the brain receptor site. SSRI discontinuation syndrome can occur during or following interruption or the lowering of dosage or the discontinuation of an SSRI or SNRI (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor) antidepressant.

Side effects can occur between 24 hours to one week after reduction or stoppage of dosage and they can be overwhelming. Side effects may include dizziness, electric shock-like sensations or “zaps,” sweating, nausea, insomnia, tremor, confusion, and vertigo.

If you are considering coming off your antidepressant, Summer Beretsky on PsychCentral.com offers some tips on how to make the process in a blog that details her challenges when she came off Paxil. Her weaning process was a months long ordeal that involved tapering down her dosage by splitting or shaving pills over the course of seven months. During that time of weaning off she says she suffered from side effects headaches, lethargy, depression, dizziness, the “zaps,” and nausea, to name a few. Read her personal story and tips on gradually weaning off SSRIs on the site’s blog.

SOURCE: Paxil and Pregnancy › Coming off antidepressants can take months of effort

The families contend that the mothers’ use of Paxil during pregnancy resulted in severe heart defects in their infants and have sued GlaxoSmithKline for failure to warn the public about the dangers of the drug for pregnant women.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recently recommended that pregnant women not use Paxil, according to the plaintiffs’ lawyer, Karen Barth Menzies of Los Angeles.

Two of the plaintiffs are from West Virginia, two from Ohio and one from Nebraska.

Source: Lawyers USA

SOURCE: Paxil and Pregnancy › Parents sue Paxil maker for heart defects

The lawsuit, filed in Pennsylvania state court, is seeking unspecified damages for failing to warn pregnant women about the risks of taking Paxil.

During the last month of her pregnancy, Vasquez learned, while receiving an ultrasound to determine the sex of her baby, that there was something wrong with his heart.

Since then, Adrian has undergone three open-heart surgeries and now has a pacemaker.

The seriousness of these birth defects is such that, at the very first sign of danger, GSK should have issued a strong warning, said attorney Karen Barth Menzies, who is representing the family.

Adrian will need repeated heart surgeries as he continues to grow and may need artificial replacement valves, and perhaps eventually a heart transplant. His prognosis is unclear, she said.

Menzies added that with 40,000 pregnant women nationwide taking antidepressants, thousands of babies are at risk.

Source: Lawyers USA

SOURCE: Paxil and Pregnancy › Paxil Maker Sued Over Child Born with Severe Birth Defects