Considering Eligibility for a Zegerid Lawsuit
Women who experience heartburn during pregnancy may be prescribed a medication like Zegerid to help them feel more comfortable and avoid long term damage to the esophagus. Recent studies have indicated a potential link between Zegerid and Zegerid birth defects like heart defects and anencephaly. Women who took Zegerid and then gave birth to a baby with Zegerid birth defects may be able to win compensation to help pay for medical expenses in a Zegerid lawsuit.
Eligibility for a Zegerid Lawsuit
To convince a jury that Zegerid was the cause of Zegerid birth defects, a Zegerid lawyer may require medical records detailing the pregnancy and prescription records for Zegerid. Medical records detailing the baby’s Zegerid birth defects would also be required.
A Zegerid lawsuit would likely blame manufacturer Merck & Co., Inc. (or Santarus, Inc. for prescription Zegerid) for failing to include warnings about the potential for Zegerid birth defects on the label. A Zegerid lawyer may also blame the manufacturers for failing to conduct adequate studies to determine the risks and safety of the drug.
Studies Provide Evidence for a Zegerid Lawsuit
Zegerid belongs to a class of drugs called proton pump inhibotors (PPI), which work to reduce stomach acid by blocking the enzyme that produces it. In studies with these drugs, results have shown a potential for them to be harmful to an unborn child.
Two studies published in 2010 provide evidence for a Zegerid lawsuit concerning Zegerid birth defects. One published in Gastroenterology found that women who took a proton pump inhibitor during the first trimester doubled their risk of giving birth to a baby with birth defects like Zegerid birth defects. A second study published in The New England Journal of Medicine showed that women who took a PPI drug in the four weeks prior to conception were more likely to give birth to a baby with Zegerid birth defects.
PPI Birth Defects May Include Septal Heart Defects
In these studies, the PPI birth defects included septal heart defects, in which a baby is born with a hole in the wall between the chambers of the heart. Such a defect typically requires surgery to correct and can cause difficulty breathing. Other potential Zegerid birth defects include anencephaly, hydroencephaly, and limb malformation. PPI medications may also increase the risk of miscarriage.
Considering a Zegerid Lawsuit
Parents who have had a child with Zegerid birth defects may want to consider filing a Zegerid lawsuit to recover damages. If you or a loved one has been injured by Zegerid or had a child with Zegerid birth defects, contact the Zegerid lawyers at Chaffin Luhana LLP today for a confidential case evaluation at 1-888-480-1123.
