What is Priligy?

Priligy (Dapoxetine) is a type of drug that is classified as a short-acting selective serotonin reputake inhibitory (SSRI). SSRI drugs’ main purpose is to act as an antidepressant by raising the serotonin levels in the brain – causing a state or feeling of well being. Priligy was originally developed by Eli Lilly and Company, and in Decemeber 2003, the patent for Priligy was sold to Jonhson & Johnson.

Although Priligy and other SSRI drugs are a possible treatment for depression and other anxiety disorders, recent studies have found that Priligy can potentially increase the chances for giving birth to a child with Priligy birth defects.

Potential Congenital Priligy Birth Defects

Priligy has been linked with an increased probability of having a child born with such conditions as abdominal defects, cranial defects, heart defects, and persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN). The number of potential heart defects is numerous, but most of them are treatable with surgery if caught early on in the infant’s life. However, the child may have to undergo multiple surgeries throughout life, possibly into adulthood. The potential conditions affecting the heart 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 recent study has found that pregnant women who take an SSRI drug such as Priligy during the third trimester are six times more likely to give birth to a child with PPHN, as compared to children born to mother’s who did not take an SSRI drug. PPHN is a condition that is diagnosed at birth, and it occurs as a result of the lung’s blood pressure being low, which causes the heart’s blood pressure to increase. This counteraction results in an inadequate amount of oxygen being released into the bloodstream.

Starting a Priligy Lawsuit

If you or someone you know took Priligy or generic dapoxetine during pregnancy and the child was born with a birth defect then call and speak to a Chaffin Luhana Priligy lawyer today at 1-888-480-1123. The call is free and confidential, and Priligy lawyer can assist you with filing a Priligy lawsuit. Contact Chaffin Luhana, LLP immediately so that we may explain the rights and options available to you and your family.