Pregnancy and Upstene Birth Defects What is Upstene?

Upstene (Indalpine) is an antidepressant drug that was developed by the pharmaceutical company Pharmuka. Upstene is categorized with other antidepressant drugs into a group known as selectivce serotonin reputake inhibitors (SSRIs). These SSRI drugs work by raising the levels of serotonin in the brain, and as a result, the patient has stabilized mood, eating, and patterns. Currently, Upstene has been removed from the market and discontinued.

Although SSRI drugs including Upstene have proved to be successful in treating depression and other anxiety disorders, the SSRI drugs have also proven to elevate the risk of having a child with birth defects if taken during pregnancy.

Potential Upstene Birth Defects

Research and testing have recently shown that women, who have taken an SSRI drug during pregnancy, including Upstene, have a greater risk for giving birth to an infant with congenital birth defects. A child that has been exposed to Upstene or any other SSRI drug during fetal development has a greater chance of being born with a birth defect such as the following:

• Abdominal defects

• Cranial defects

• Heart defects

• Persistent pulmonary hypertension of newborns (PPHN)

The cranial defects that can be caused by fetal exposure to Upstene include cleft lip and cleft palate, among others. Cleft lip and palate are categorized as craniofacial defects, and both conditions affect the general area of the mouth. Cleft lip is an opening in the upper lip, while cleft palate is an opening in the roof of the mouth. Both cleft lip and palate can occur separately or simultaneously.

The potential heart defects caused by Upstene include the following:

•  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)

A child born with one of the above heart defects can be treated with surgery if the condition is caught quickly. However, the infant may have to undergo multiple surgeries in order to completely resolve the problem.

PPHN is a condition that is diagnosed right after birth, and it affects the lungs causing other medical issues. PPHN occurs when the blood pressure in the lungs’ blood vessels remains low after birth, which causes the heart’s blood pressure to be high. As a result, the amount of oxygen being pumped into the blood stream is insufficient – causing breathing difficulties.

Should I Hire an Upstene lawyer?

If you or a loved one has taken Upstene while pregnant, and have given birth to a child suffering from a congenital birth defect, then you may be entitled to compensation. You are urged to contact Chaffin Luhana, LLP at 1-888-480-1123 in order to speak with an Upstene lawyer regarding a potential Upstene lawsuit. You deserve to be compensated for your anguish, and an Upstene lawyer is prepared to help you.