MO Paxil Side Effects Lawyers
In 2005, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first warned consumers that Paxil, also known as paroxetine, might cause more birth defects than other antidepressants. Paxil is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, or SSRI, that is prescribed as an antidepressant. The FDA's warning followed a 2005 study that found that among 3,500 pregnant women taking Paxil, the risk of a birth defect was double what it was in pregnant women who were not taking Paxil.
Paxil use has been linked to several different kinds of birth defects, including heart defects, lung problems, club feet, and cranial defects, or problems with the skull. Paxil particularly increases the risk of atrial septal defects (ASD) and ventricular septal defects (VSD). Both ASD and VSD are heart conditions characterized by holes in the walls of the heart. A 2006 study by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists indicated that pregnant women who are given Paxil during the first three months of their pregnancies are more likely to give birth to babies with ASD or VSD than those who take another SSRI or none at all.
In 2005, the New England Journal of Medicine published a study linking Paxil use to persistent pulmonary hypertension, or PPHN. PPHN is a lung disorder in which the blood pressure in the lungs is too high. Babies born with PPHN may die if the blood pressure in the lungs cannot be controlled. Newborns who survive with PPHN may face serious hearing, speech, and other cognitive defects that will require life-long care and treatment.
In addition to these serious heart and lung problems, Paxil use has been linked to craniosynostosis, a condition in which the bones of the skull do not fit together properly after the baby is born. Babies born with craniosynotosis may need additional surgeries to fix the problem. If untreated, the condition can cause traumatic brain injury or other complications that increase the child's risk of death or disability.
Paxil use is also linked to club foot, a birth defect in which the foot turns inward and downward. Club feet are often passed along in families, but studies indicate that prescribing Paxil during a pregnancy increases the risk of a child having a club foot even if there is no family history of the condition. Club feet can be treated, but treatment requires multiple visits to an orthopedist or other professional and takes several years. Severe cases of club foot often require surgery and a hospital stay of several days.
Paxil is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, which also manufactures Vioxx and Avandia, two medications that have been linked to a significant increase in health risks including heart attack and stroke. If your child was born with a birth defect and you suspect Paxil may be to blame, please don't hesitate to contact the experienced St. Louis drug injury lawyers at Page Law. We will examine your case carefully and fight for the compensation you and your family deserve. For a free and confidential consultation, call us anytime at (314) 322-8515.
