Celexa Lawsuits Birth Defects

When a baby is in the womb, his growth must be timed just right in order for everything to develop on schedule. Sometimes, however, something happens to interrupt that schedule and result in birth defects. If your child developed a birth defect caused by the use of this medication during pregnancy, please contact us for the latest Celexa lawsuits birth defects news and information.Those interruptions could be due to a genetic abnormality or an environmental condition. Recent studies have indicated that some medicines—particularly antidepressants—used by the pregnant mother can also cause that interruption, increasing the risk of birth defects.

Depression and Antidepressants

Depression is one of the most common mood disorders in the United States, and is expected to reach epidemic proportions within the next ten years. Women are more likely to feel depressed than men, and nearly one in 10 pregnant women experience depression.

Patients who are both pregnant and depressed must work carefully to treat this disease. Without treatment, a pregnant woman puts both her and her baby’s health at risk. Babies born to depressed mothers are more likely to be born prematurely and at a lower birth rate. Furthermore, a pregnant woman who is depressed may use other coping behavior that is unsafe for her baby, such as smoking, drinking or taking drugs. She may also attempt suicide.

With treatment, however, the chances of risky behavior decrease. Depending on the type of treatment, however, an unborn baby may face additional risks. Antidepressants are a common way to effectively treat depression, but a particular type of antidepressant has been linked to numerous birth defects.

SSRIs and Celexa Birth Defects

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, or SSRIs, are a type of antidepressant that work with a specific chemical in the brain that is believed to affect depression. SSRIs, such as Celexa, Prozac, Paxil and Zoloft are prescribed for depression and also for other conditions such as social anxiety and panic disorder.

Although the SSRIs were often successful in easing depression, new data emerged that when taken during pregnancy, the SSRIs contributed to a variety of serious birth defects, including:

• Craniosynostosis
• Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN)
• Neural tube defects
• Omphaloceles
• Atrial and ventricular septal heart defects
• Cleft lip and palate

Although scientists have not been able to determine exactly why these medicines effect a baby’s development, the link between SSRIs and birth defects is clear. The FDA has categorized these SSRIs as a Pregnancy Category C, which means that studies have shown that these drugs harm animal test subjects. Although, understandably, they have not been tested on human subjects, the implication is that they can harm humans as well.

If you took Celexa or another SSRI and your baby was born with a birth defect, you are not at fault. Instead, it may be the manufacturer who sold a product with such devastating side effects. In fact, you may be eligible to seek compensation to help you with medical and other expenses. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your legal options. There is a limited time to file Celexa lawsuits birth defects claims – please don’t hesitate to contact us as soon as possible. We are currently representing families throughout the United States.