What is Prozac?
Prozac is classified as a Selective Serotonin Reputake Inhibitor (SSRI), and its purpose is to work as an antidepressant by raising serotonin levels in the brain in order to regulate mood, sleep and appetite. Prozac is used to treat conditions such as depression, bulimia nervosa, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). Although the drug is useful in treating these disorders, there are potential side effects that may occur, particularly in pregnant women. Studies have found that women who take SSRIs, such as Prozac, during pregnancy have a greater risk for having a child with a Prozac birth defect.
Potential Prozac Birth Defects in Newborns
In 2004, Health Canada issued an advisory regarding the potential adverse effects of SSRIs, in particular Prozac. Then, in May of 2005, researchers from the University of Pittsburgh estimated in the Journal of the American Medical Association, that in any given year at least 80,000 pregnant women in the U.S. are prescribed SSRIs, with Prozac being the biggest seller. This discovery came as a shock because of the potential congenital Prozac birth defects such as abdominal defects, cranial defect, heart defects, and PPHN.
In 2005, a Danish study concluded that pregnant women prescribed SSRIs including Prozac early on in the fetus’s development might have an increased risk of having an infant affected by a congenital heart defect. The following congenital heart defects potentially can occur:
- 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 another potential Prozac birth defect – it is a condition that causes a low amount of blood pressure in lungs. As a result, the blood pressure in the heart increases, which leads to a low amount of oxygen in the body’s blood stream.
Prozac Birth Defects & Potential Lawsuits
If you or a loved one took Prozac while pregnant and have a child that may suffer from any Prozac birth defects, contact Chaffin Luhana, LLP immediately by calling 1-888-480-1123 in order to discuss the legal options, including a potential Prozac lawsuit, available to you and your family. You are not alone. Join other birth defect victims and their families in speaking up and fighting for your legal rights.
