Women taking anxiety medications or antidepressants during pregnancy may be at an increased risk of giving birth to a baby with abdominal, skull or heart defects. If you took Lexapro, Celexa, Zoloft, Effexor, Paxil or Prozac during your pregnancy and you were unaware of the potential complications, you may be eligible to work with a birth defect attorney in California and pursue a claim for your baby’s condition.
Contact Attorney Group for California today to learn more about your legal rights and to receive a free case evaluation. If you decide to pursue a claim, we can connect you with an affiliated birth defect attorney who can assist you in filing a lawsuit in California and seeking the compensation to which you may be entitled.
Overview of SSRIs
Known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, SSRIs are among the most-prescribed antidepressant medications across the globe. SSRIs work to prevent the reabsorption of serotonin in the brain. By changing this chemical balance, the patient’s brain is able to better receive and send messages, and the patient may notice an elevated mood.
Studies have concluded that SSRIs may help to ease the symptoms of depression and anxiety, and several experts in the healthcare community report that these medications are relatively safe if taken as prescribed. Additionally, many physicians agree that SSRIs do not cause as many adverse side effects as other similar drugs.
Are SSRIs Safe?
However, although each medication’s chemical makeup may vary, most SSRIs work in similar ways and may cause comparable side effects. Although most mild side effects often disappear after two or three weeks following the initial dosage, many patients have experienced common side effects including:
- Bleeding into the gut
- Agitation, nervousness, recklessness
- Increased risk of fractures
- Dizziness, drowsiness, insomnia, headache
- Diarrhea, vomiting, nausea
- Weight loss or gain
- Reduced libido, difficulty reaching orgasm
- Increased suicidal tendencies
- Dry mouth
Unfortunately, those working with a birth defect attorney have allegedly suffered from complications while taking SSRIs during pregnancy. According to pending lawsuits against the medications’ manufacturers, patients were not always informed of the potential consequences that these drugs could have on their unborn children. Although SSRIs are not particularly dangerous for women, patients in California who took these medications while pregnant should consider seeking legal counsel from a birth defect attorney if they deliver a baby with complications.
Studies Link Antidepressants to Birth Defects
Women may be eligible to file lawsuits with help from a birth defect attorney to recover damages for their child’s condition if they had taken an antidepressant during pregnancy. Studies show that health complications from taking these drugs may cause an increased risk of birth defects in babies whose mothers used the medications while pregnant. In light of recent allegations of severe birth defects, attorneys across the U.S. are reviewing claims and working to help patients seek the compensation to which they may be entitled. Some of the most commonly alleged birth defects in pending lawsuits include:
- Craniosynostosis
- Omphalocele
- Hypoplastic left heart syndrome
- Spina bifida
- Tetralogy of fallot
- Heart defects
- Coarctation of the aorta
- Transportation of the great arteries
Additionally, SSRI use during pregnancy may cause a child to be born with ventricular septal defects, club foot, atrial septal defects and holes in his or her heart. If you delivered a baby with a birth defect and you feel that your child’s condition was caused by your use of an anxiety medication or anti-depressant, contact Attorney Group for California to learn more about your legal rights.
Contact a Birth Defect Attorney in California Today
If you or a loved one took SSRIs and you suffered from adverse side effects or complications, consider seeking legal counsel from a birth defect attorney in California. Attorney Group for California can review your case, free of charge, and help you determine if you are eligible to file a lawsuit and recover damages for your injuries. We can connect you with an affiliated birth defect attorney in California who can assist you in pursuing your claim.
