Are You Aware Paxil and Zoloft Can Cause Birth Injuries?

23 Dec Are You Aware Paxil and Zoloft Can Cause Birth Injuries?

If you are a woman who has taken or is currently taking anti-depressant medication and are of childbearing age, you need to know the risks. Drugs such as Paxil and Zoloft have been shown to increase risk of birth defects in children whose mothers take the drugs during pregnancy. It can be a tough decision for a mother-to-be to make; does she go off of her depression medication and risk a difficult relapse or does she take a chance of her baby having a birth injury caused by the dangerous drugs?

People may now become more aware of these issues due to the recent outcome that involved just such a case. Pharmalot.com reports that GlaxoSmithKline, the makers of Paxil, have been ordered to pay a $2.5 million dollar settlement to a family who have a son affected by heart defects brought about by his mother’s use of Paxil during pregnancy. This is the first of 600 cases. The judgement was made based on findings that the drug makers failed to properly warn doctors and patients of the possible birth defect threat.

According to an article on U.S. News and World Report, a recent study suggests that the danger of heart defects caused by these kinds of drugs is quite high. In the study, women who had taken sertraline (Zoloft) in early pregnancy doubled their baby’s chances of being born with a heart defect and those who took paroxetine (Paxil) increased their child’s risk by three times. Antidepressant drugs can also cause birth defects other than in the heart, including a rare type of hernia called omphalocele (intestines protrude from the belly button).

If your child is affected by a birth injury that was caused by a dangerous product or medical negligence, you should contact a qualified attorney. We deal with these kinds of cases and will be happy to review your case for free. Call us at 1-877-659-1620 or fill out the contact form on this page.