Effexor Lawsuits

Representing families affected by Effexor birth defects after taking this SSRI antidepressant drug during pregnancy and representing individuals who have developed side effects in filing Effexor lawsuits. Currently cases are being filed individually and no nationwide Effexor class action lawsuit has been filed.

Recently, the public has become more aware that the antidepressant drug Effexor which is prescribed to treat depression has been associated with serious birth defects problems. Effexor (generic name Venlafaxine) is a medication known as a serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) manufactured by Pfizer Inc. Many women of childbearing age have taken antidepressant medications such as Effexor which are also referred to as serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
These antidepressant drugs, which include Paxil, Prozac and Zoloft, have different side effects for the unborn child associated with them including the increase risk of premature birth, breathing problems, gastrointestinal side effects and motor problems. The exact degree of risk of Effexor birth defects is currently unknown, however the risk of developing complications has been reported in babies following use of these medications. Women taking this drug during their pregnancy can expose their baby to the medication while in the womb leading to the development of an Effexor birth defect.

Effexor Birth Defects Side Effects Include:
Abdominal Birth Defects: Also referred to as “omphalocele”. An omphalocele is a birth defect where the infant’s intestine or other abdominal organs such as the liver or spleen stick out of the belly button. According to data from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study of infants, women who used an SSRI antidepressant drug had an increased risk of having an infant with abdominal birth defects.

Cranial Birth Defects: Also referred to as “craniosynostosis”. Exposure to SSRI drugs is associated with an infant developing craniosynostosis. This birth defect of the brain is characterized by the premature closing of one or more of the fibrous joints between the bones of the skull before brain growth is complete.

PPHN: (Persistent pulmonary hypertension) PPHN is a serious cardiopulmonary or lung disorder that affects newborns. In 2006 the FDA announced a Public Health Advisory for SSRI drugs regarding a study that suggested a PPHN risk that was six times more common in newborns where the mother used SSRI antidepressant medication during their pregnancy. PPHN of the newborn is the result of elevated pulmonary vascular resistance where venous blood is diverted through fetal channels into the systemic circulation bypassing the lungs which results in systemic arterial hypoxemia.

Heart Birth Defects: On December 8, 2005, the Food and Drug Administration alerted health care professionals and patients about early results of new studies suggesting that certain SSRI drugs may increase the risk for birth defects, particularly heart defects, when women take it during the first three months of pregnancy.

In 2004, the Food and Drug Administration released a warning against the use of certain antidepressants for women in the late third trimester of pregnancy. The warning stated that doctors may want to gradually taper pregnant women off antidepressant medications in the third trimester so that the baby is not adversely affected. After a woman delivers, she should consult with her doctor to decide whether to return to a full dose of the antidepressant medication during the period when she is most vulnerable to problems such as postpartum depression.

In 2006, the Food and Drug Administration issued a safety alert regarding the increased risk of persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN) which is a serious and life-threatening lung condition that occurs soon after birth. The alert covered Effexor along with other antidepressant drugs.

Effexor Lawsuits 2011
If your child has suffered from Effexor and birth defects please contact us for a free no-obligation consultation. We are currently investigating cases for families involving an Effexor birth defect that occurred after using this antidepressant drug. For the latest news and updates and information on filing a Effexor birth defects lawsuit claim please call or e-mail us today.