Ssri Lawsuits Based On Birth Defects

More families are filing SSRI lawsuits relating to birth defects after their children were exposed to the antidepressant drug in utero. SSRI antidepressants are prescription medicines used to treat depression. It works by balancing the brain chemical serotonin, which is believed to affect mood. SSRI drugs have been used for over twenty years and are prescribed for depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder and bulimia nervosa.

Depression is more common in women than men, and it is often found in women who are pregnant. In fact, 20% of pregnant women have symptoms of depression. Doctors agree that for the health of both the mother and baby, it is best to treat the depression. Untreated mothers are more likely to deliver premature or underweight babies. In addition, pregnant women who are depressed may be more likely to engage in behavior, such as drinking alcohol, taking drugs or smoking, which can harm the baby.

While a variety of treatment options are available, SSRI drugs were often prescribed because it was effective and had minimal side effects. Over time, however, researchers began to see a startling correlation. Babies whose mothers used these medications while pregnant were more likely to be born with certain specific birth defects. These birth defects seemed to be related to the period within the pregnancy when the mother took an SSRI.

When SSRI medications were taken during early pregnancy, it affected the development of the heart, abdomen and skull. Women who took them during the third trimester, however, were more likely to have babies with a lung condition called Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN).

All of these conditions may result in multiple surgeries, physical, mental and developmental delays. The more serious abnormalities may also result in death. Eventually, the FDA issued a recommendation that pregnant women should not take SSRI unless the medicine’s benefits to the mother were more critical than the risk presented to the baby.

SSRI lawsuits regarding birth defects have been filed because families believe that the manufacturers of the drug may have been aware of the connection between SSRI and birth defects yet did not warn doctors and patients. As a result, more women and babies may have been affected.

If you or someone you love has been affected by the use of this antidepressant while pregnant, you might consider filing a SSRI lawsuit seeking damages because of birth defects the baby has suffered. Attorneys are currently investigating cases for people affected by antidepressant side effects, and most offer a free consultation to discuss your individual situation.