Anxiety Over New Drug, Viibryd: When a Viibryd Lawyer May Become Necessary

Viibryd is the first drug of its kind to serve as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and 5HT1A receptor partial agonist. The SSRI portion of the Viibryd causes the levels of serotonin in the brain to increase, creating a feeling of well being, while the 5HT1A receptor partial agonist affects the alleles of the HT transporter gene.

Concerns are mounting, however, that Viibryd—like other SSRI antidepressant drugs—may have adverse effects on children during the early stages of fetal development. If so, mothers may want to contact a Viibryd lawyer for help.

Will Viibryd cause congenital Birth Defects?

Viibryd was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2011, and since then, it has not been connected with any congenital birth defects. There is concern, however, that the medication may have similar adverse side effects as other SSRI drugs. SSRI antidepressants have been linked with abdominal defects, cranial defects, heart defects, and persistent pulmonary hypertension of newborns (PPHN).

The following heart defects may be found in children exposed to SSRI drugs during fetal development:

• Atrial septal defects (ASD)

• Ventricular septal defects (VSD)

• Tetrology of Fallot (ToF)

• Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS)

• Transposition of the great arteries (TGA or TOGA)

• Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)

• Total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVR)

• Double outlet right ventricle (DORV)

• Coarctation of the aorta (CoA)

PPHN is a congenital birth defect that affects the lungs and heart, and may lead to other health conditions. PPHN occurs when the blood pressure in lungs does not go up after birth, which causes the blood pressure in the heart to go up. As a result, there is not enough oxygen in the bloodstream, potentially causing the infant to have other health problems such as difficulty breathing.

Finding an SSRI or Viibryd Lawyer to Help

There is growing concern that Viibryd may potentially cause congenital birth defects, as may other drugs containing SSRI chemicals. If you or someone you know has given birth to a child with birth defects after taking an SSRI drug, contact a Chaffin Luhana, LLP SSRI or Viibryd lawyer immediately for a free and confidential case review. You may be entitled to compensation through an SSRI lawsuit, and Chaffin Luhana can help.