THE LINK BETWEEN SSRIS AND BIRTH

DEFECTS An Experienced Defective Drug Lawyer can Provide Assistance in Taking Legal Action to Hold Drug Makers

Accountable for SSRI Birth Defects

CAREY, DANIS & LOWE

PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEYS

The Link Between SSRIs and Birth Defects Carey, Danis and Lowe, Attorneys at Law 2

Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors are among the most commonly

prescribed antidepressant medications on the market today. Called SSRIs for

short, this group of medications includes Paxil, Zoloft, Lexapro, Prozac, Celexa,

Luvox, Effexor and Wellbutrin. The drugs are generally taken on a long-term

basis by the majority of the approximately 10 percent of the American public who

take anti-depressant medications.

Unfortunately, SSRI medications have some significant side effects. Although

patients were not generally

aware of the risks at the time

they began taking

antidepressant drugs, SSRIs

have been linked to serious and

potentially fatal birth defects.

Drug manufacturers who make

and sell these popular SSRI

drugs need to be held

accountable for the

consequences to mothers, children and families. An experienced defective drug

lawyer can provide assistance in taking legal action to hold drug makers

accountable for SSRI birth defects.

COMPLICATIONS AND RISKS OF SSRI MEDICATIONS

SSRIs are an effective treatment for depression because the drugs can block a

neurotransmitter in the brain from reabsorbing serotonin. Serotonin affects the

mood, and elevated levels of Serotonin can improve feelings of happiness and

well-being.

The Link Between SSRIs and Birth Defects Carey, Danis and Lowe, Attorneys at Law 3

SSRIs selectively block the neurotransmitter that regulates serotonin levels,

which is where the drugs derive their name. Reuptake refers to the reabsorption

of serotonin, which is blocked by the medications. Long-term use is typically

necessary to maintain elevated serotonin levels and effectively fight against

depression. Patients are generally advised not to discontinue the use of SSRI

medications unless under the approval of a physician. When patients do

discontinue the use of the drugs, they are often slowly weaned off of the

medications to prevent undesirable complications and side effects.

When women become pregnant, they must choose if they want to remain on SSRI

drugs during their pregnancy. In order to make this choice, they need to be

informed of potential risks to the baby and weigh those risks against the

problems associated with discontinuing SSRI use. Patients have the right to be

fully warned of all potential complications and problems that a drug can cause so

that they can make an informed choice.

Unfortunately, many patients did not receive adequate or correct information

about what SSRIs can do during pregnancy. Numerous medical studies have

linked SSRI use to serious birth defects including the following complications:

Heart defects

Spina bifida

The Link Between SSRIs and Birth Defects Carey, Danis and Lowe, Attorneys at Law 4

Club feet

Craniosynostosis

Omphalocele

Anal athesic

Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN)

Congenital abnormalities in infants exposed to SSRIs during pregnancy

Cleft palates in infants exposed to SSRIs during pregnancy

Infants born with birth defects may need extensive medical assistance in order to

survive and thrive despite their disabling condition. It is common for infants to

require multiple surgeries to correct SSRI birth defects, and fatalities can result

from side effects caused by the use of anti-depressant medications during

pregnancy.

Drug manufacturers who sold

SSRIs can be held legally

liable for damages. Victims

must provide proof that the

SSRI drugs were the cause of

an unexpected side effect or

serious complication. There

is no requirement to prove

that drug manufacturers were

negligent in the manufacture

or release of SSSRI drugs because strict liability rules mandate accountability

even without fault. However, victims may also make other claims in addition to

The Link Between SSRIs and Birth Defects Carey, Danis and Lowe, Attorneys at Law 5

strict liability arguments, including negligent failure to warn about side effects

and risks.

HOW DANGEROUS ARE SSRI MEDICATIONS?

SSRI medications have been linked to a significant increase in the risk of an

infant developing persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN).

A 2006 study from the New England Journal of Medicine revealed that an infant

exposed to SSRIs had six times the risk of developing PPHN as compared with an

infant whose mother did not take this type of medication during pregnancy.

Other studies have also found that SSRI exposure affects the likelihood of being

born with PPHN.

Parents need to take this risk seriously,

because PPHN is a serious condition.

PPHN is a failure of the normal

circulatory transition that occurs after a

child is born. An infant with PPHN will

experience right-to-left intra-cardiac

shunting of blood and will experience

hypoxemia, which is an abnormally low

level of oxygen in arterial blood.

An infant suffering from PPHN may

experience signs of acute perinatal

distress. Symptoms and complications can include respiratory distress; a heart

murmur; asphyxia; poor cardiac function; and hypotension. Meconium staining

is common in children with PPHN, and a loud second heart sound may be heard.

The child may also be in shock.

The Link Between SSRIs and Birth Defects Carey, Danis and Lowe, Attorneys at Law 6

PPHN can require treatment including ventilation, nutritional support,

continuous monitoring of oxygen levels, inotropic support, and endotracheal

intubation. The condition is a high risk one and prompt medical intervention

may become necessary, as well as a neurological evaluation by a neurologist

and/or developmental pediatrician after release from the neonatal intensive care

unit or hospital.

The risks of PPHN are unacceptable for most patients, who should have been

warned of the potential link between SSRIs and this serious birth defect. Because

other complications can also occur as a result, there is a serious danger for

infants born to mothers who used SSRIs during pregnancy. SSRI manufacturers

who failed to provide adequate warning of these risks can be held legally liable for

the consequences that their drugs caused to children and to families.

The Link Between SSRIs and Birth Defects Carey, Danis and Lowe, Attorneys at Law 7

About Carey, Danis & Lowe, Attorneys at Law

Carey, Danis & Lowe exclusively represents plaintiffs in litigation. The firm practices a wide area of personal injury law including trucking accidents, medical malpractice, auto accidents,

motorcycle accidents, product liability, burn injuries, defective prescription drugs, and defective medical devices. Currently approximately 50% of the practice is devoted to prescription drug litigation, including drugs such as Yaz, Pradaxa, Zoloft, Prozac, Lexapro,

Paxil, and defective medical devices including Mirena, Transvaginal Mesh, Depuy ASR Hips, and Nextgen Knees. The remainder of the practice is devoted to trucking accidents, auto

accidents, motorcycle accidents, medical malpractice, and other serious personal injuries.

The firm is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, but practices throughout the nation. We have

successfully handled cases from coast to coast.

The law firm prides itself on personally handling all cases it takes in, and has the expertise to, if necessary, try the case to a jury no matter how complex or lengthy. The firm has a

successful track record in obtaining large jury verdicts for their injured clients as well as substantial settlements.

The firm has obtained multi million dollar verdicts and settlements in personal injury cases, including a $105 million jury verdict involving the explosive separation of a multi-piece wheel against Firestone which was the largest verdict in Missouri that year, a $13 million verdict

against a hotel where a boxing match was held for not having an ambulance on site, a $4.5 million jury verdict against medical Engineering Corporation for a defective breast implant, a

$2 million jury verdict in a medical malpractice case, a $2.1 million settlement involving a trucking accident, a $1.1 million verdict in a motorcycle accident case, a $1,050,000 verdict in

a trucking accident case, a $1 million judgment in underinsured motorist case, and many others.

The firm has also represented thousands of clients in pharmaceutical and medical device cases

and recovered over a billion dollars. Some of the settlements and judgments involve Fen Phen, Baycol, Vioxx, Bextra, Avandia, Paxil, Smith & Nephew Macrotextured Knees, and Depuy

ASR metal on metal hips. The firm is dedicated to providing excellent legal representation for people injured by defective products or in a variety of accidents.

Carey, Danis & Lowe, Attorneys at Law 8235 Forsyth Blvd, Suite 1100 St. Louis, Missouri 63105

http://www.cdlinjurylaw.com Practice Areas

Trucking Accidents / 18-Wheeler Crashes Pharmaceutical Liability

Motor Vehicle Accidents Personal Injury Medical Malpractice

Defective Medical Devices Commercial Litigation