What is Paxil?
Paxil is an antidepressant drug that has recently come under scrutiny for potentially causing congenital birth defects. The drug is identified as a Selective Serotonin Reputake Inhibitor (SSRI), and Paxil works by raising serotonin throughout the body – which causes a feeling of well being. On the contrary, in 2005, a Pittsburgh University medical study was released in the Journal of the American Medical Association that found 80,000 women are prescribed an SSRI drug during pregnancy, and Paxil is the top two. The result of this is a greater number of newborns being affected by birth defects – causing more individuals to seek a Paxil lawsuit.
Paxil’s Potential Side Effects
A study performed by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has concluded that a pregnant woman who took Paxil during the first trimester was six times more likely to have a newborn with heart defects, abdominal defects, cranial defects or persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN). The number of potential heart defects is numerous and include the following:
- Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS)
- Pulmonary Atresia
- Tricuspic Atresia
- Transposition of the Great Vessels
- Atrial Septal Defect (hole in the heart)
- Ventricular Septal Defect (hole in the heart)
- Coarctation of the Aorta
- Tetralogy of Fallot
- Double Outlet Right Ventricle
- Truncus Arteriosus
- Double Inlet Left Ventricle
- Double Aortic Arch
PPHN is health condition that is immediately recognized after the birth of a child. The cause for PPHN is an inadequate amount of blood circulation to the lungs – causing the blood pressure in the heart to increase. Ultimately, this situation leads to a lower amount of oxygen in the body’s bloodstream.
A Paxil Lawyer is Standing By to Assist You
It is the responsibility of pharmaceutical drug manufacturers to warn doctors and consumers of any potential side effects of a drug – Paxil was not tested thoroughly and has the potential to cause congenital Paxil birth defects. If you or someone you know has given birth to a child with a heart defect, PPHN, or other congenital birth defect then you are advised to contact a Chaffin Luhana lawyer today by calling 1-888-480-1123. The call will provide you with a free and confidential Paxil case review. You may be entitled to monetary compensation, and a Paxil lawyer is prepared to assist you.
