Antidepressants Causing Birth Defects

One out of ten Americans are taking antidepressants such as Prozac and Paxil. This large portion of Americans includes women who are pregnant and suffer from depression. In many cases, these mothers-to-be have to choose between treating their depression and risking dangerous birth defects in their children. Taking antidepressants during gestation increases the risks that the baby will be born with a serious birth defect.

Researchers at the Centers for Disease Control found that women taking Paxil during their first trimester of pregnancy more than doubled their risk of five types of serious birth defects, while those taking Prozac had a higher risk of two serious birth defects.

Some of the most common birth defect risks and medical problems associated with Paxil include:

Heart problems
Cleft lip
Cleft palate
Club foot
Hearing and speech impairment
Seizures
Vomiting
Tremors

If you are given the medication and your doctor fails to warn you of the dangers, your doctor may liable for damages.

In some cases, doctors may not know of the associated risks of the drug because the manufacturers of Paxil failed to warn doctors and consumers of the risks of taking the medication while pregnant.

GlaxoSmithKline, the pharmaceutical company that manufactured Paxil, has been sanctioned, fined, and criticized for its deceptive sales tactics in marketing the antidepressant and other medications.

If you or a loved one took antidepressants during pregnancy and had a child born with a birth defect, contact the lawyers at The Collins Law Firm today. We may be able to help secure the compensation you deserve for this dangerous drug.