ANTIDEPRESSANTS & Birth Defects

Drugs Used to Treat Depression May Cause Birth Defects

Pregnancy can be one of the most magical times in a woman’s life. It can also be one of the scariest. Your whole life is about to change! On top of that, your body already is changing, and your hormones can shift out of balance. Many women discover that what is supposed to be a happy time can also cause feelings of anxiety and depression. Desperate to feel better and to embrace the pregnancy, many women turn to their doctors for help.

Unfortunately, the help they may be given may cause even greater harm. Women who take popular anti-depressant drugs – SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) like Zoloft, Prozac, Lexapro, Celexa, Effexor, Paxil, and Wellbutrin – during their pregnancy have an increased chance of giving birth to a baby with serious birth defects.

The Facts: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

The class of drugs known as SSRIs is used to treat depression, anxiety disorders, Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), eating disorders, and other conditions. The drugs work by boosting serotonin levels in the brain, helping to regulate mood, sleep, and appetite.

The following SSRIs are popularly prescribed in the United States and have been shown to have a link to a higher incidence of birth defects in babies born to women who took them during pregnancy:

• Celexa (citalopram), manufactured by Forest Labs
• Effexor (venlafaxine), manufactured by Wyeth
• Lexapro (escitolopram), manufactured by Forest Labs
• Wellbutrin (bupropion), manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline
• Prozac (fluoxetine), manufactured by Eli Lilly
• Zoloft (sertraline), manufactured by Pfizer
• Paxil (paroxetine), manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline

Numerous studies have shown a link between the use of SSRIs during pregnancy and a higher incidence of birth defects:

• A 1996 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found women taking Prozac during their pregnancy were two times more likely to deliver babies with three or more “minor abnormalities.” Two years later, the FDA approved the drug for market.
• A 2005 Danish study showed that infants exposed to SSRIs in the first trimester were 60 percent more likely to develop congenital heart defects than the babies of mothers who did not take the drugs.
• A 2006 study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that infants exposed to SSRIs after the 20th week of pregnancy were six times more likely to develop persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN), a serious and life-threatening lung condition.
• A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2007 found that infants exposed to Zoloft in the first few months of pregnancy had twice the risk of developing a heart defect and those exposed to Paxil had three times the risk.
• A study from the University of British Columbia in 2007 found that babies born to mothers who took Paxil had three times the risk of developing heart defects and an increased risk of developing neural tube defects such as Spina Bifida.  
• A 2012 study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry found a possible link between exposure to SSRIs and small fetal head growth and preterm birth.

The FDA and other agencies have issued warnings prompted by the results of these studies, including:

• Health Canada issued a warning in 2004 about the potential serious side effects of SSRIs on newborns. The alert was intended as a public-awareness campaign for pregnant women and their doctors.
• A 2005 Public Health Advisory from the FDA warned about the risk of heart defects linked to exposure to certain antidepressants during pregnancy.
• In 2006, the FDA asked several manufacturers of antidepressants to add information to drug labels about the potential risk of PPHN.

Serious Potential Side Effects

There are many potential serious side effects that have been linked to taking SSRI antidepressants like Zoloft, Prozac, Lexapro, Celexa, Effexor, Paxil, and Wellbutrin during pregnancy. The list of potential serious birth defects for newborns exposed to antidepressants during pregnancy include:

• Premature birth
• Low birth weight
• Clubfoot
• Cleft lip or cleft palate
• Small or malformed limbs
• Neural-tube defects like Spina Bifida
• Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN), a condition that creates high blood pressure in the vessels in the lungs, making it hard to get oxygen into the blood. ]
• Airway problems
• Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS)
• Ventral Septal Defect (VSD)
• Other heart defects such as heart murmur, hole in heart, and heart valve damage
• Anal atresia, complete or partial closure of the anus.
• Skull defects
• Abdominal wall defects, including omphalocele, a condition in which organs protrude through the baby’s belly button.
• Down’s Syndrome
• Autism Spectrum disorders

Many babies born to women who took antidepressants during pregnancy have also been shown to experience withdrawal symptoms upon birth, including tremors, convulsions, irritability, and sleep disturbances.

Antidepressant drugs like Zoloft, Prozac, Lexapro, Celexa, Effexor, Paxil, and Wellbutrin have also been associated with a risk of infants being born prematurely or with low birth weight. Some studies also suggest a link to taking antidepressants and an increased risk of miscarriage.

Antidepressant Birth Defects Lawsuits

Many medical professionals have suggested that the risks of birth defects related to taking antidepressants during pregnancy is low – one or few babies for every thousand or several thousand births (figures vary depending on the specific birth defect and drug in question). However, when the baby in question is yours, no amount of risk is so low to be considered negligible or acceptable. Imagine if your baby was the one – even in a million! – that developed a life-threatening health condition or serious physical defect because you took medication – on your doctor’s suggestion – that you thought would help you take better care of yourself

In addition to the heartache and suffering that these conditions can cause for both the babies and the parents, they can also require years of expensive medical treatments. Some babies born with heart defects may need numerous operations or even a heart transplant.  

NC SSRI Birth Defects Lawyers

If you or someone you love took antidepressant drugs like Zoloft, Prozac, Lexapro, Celexa, Effexor, Paxil, and Wellbutrin during pregnancy, or suffered birth defects as a result of being exposed to these drugs during pregnancy, you may be entitled to compensation. Attorneys at the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin are ready to help. Call 1-866-900-7078 now to talk with a representative for a free evaluation of your case. One of our North Carolina antidepressant birth defects lawyers may be able to help you!