Studies Indicate a Potential for Zegerid Birth Defects
Some women who took the acid-reducing medication Zegerid (omeprazole) to treat heartburn during pregnancy and then went on to give birth to a child with Zegerid birth defects may be wondering about their ability to recover. A Zegerid lawyer is best suited to offer advice. Recent studies suggest a potential link between the heartburn medication and Zegerid birth defects.
Zegerid belongs to a class of drugs called proton pump inhibitors (PPI), which work to reduce stomach acid by blocking the enzymes involved in producing it.
Early Studies Indicate a Link Between PPI Drugs and Zegerid Birth Defects
Two studies published in 2010 indicate a potential link between PPI medications, like Zegerid, and Zegerid birth defects. The first looked at the records of over 200,000 women and found that those who took a proton pump inhibitor drug during the first trimester had double the risk of giving birth to a child with birth defects like Zegerid birth defects. The second study found that women who took a proton pump inhibitor in the four weeks before conception experienced a 39 percent increased risk of giving birth to a child with birth defects.
Early Marketing Said Nothing of Zegerid Birth Defects
Zegerid was approved by the FDA in 2006. It was originally marketed as the only immediate-release proton pump inhibitor in capsule form. The capsules were approved for the treatment of heartburn, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), erosive esophagitis, duedenal ulcers, and active benign gastric ulcers. In 2009, Zegerid OTC was approved for one-a-day treatment of frequent heartburn.
The FDA warned about the potential of PPI drugs, like Zegerid, to cause bone fractures, but so far, Zegerid carries no warning about potential Zegerid birth defects.
Zegerid Birth Defects Included Cardiac Defects
Studies found that birth defects, like Zegerid birth defects, include septal heart defects, in which the baby is born with a hole in the wall between the chambers of the heart. This defect can cause blood to flow improperly and increases pressure in the lungs, making it difficult for the baby to breathe. Surgery may be necessary.
Other PPI birth defects may include anencephaly, hydroencephaly, and limb malformations. PPI drugs may also increase the risk for miscarriages.
Seeking the Advice of a Zegerid Lawyer
Parents who have had a child with Zegerid birth defects may want to speak to a Zegerid lawyer about a potential Zegerid lawsuit. If you or a loved one has been injured by Zegerid or have had a child with Zegerid birth defects, contact Chaffin Luhana LLP today for a confidential case evaluation at 1-888-480-1123.
