However, there is litigation surrounding Nexium. Contact us for more information and to speak with an attorney.
Lexapro lawsuit attorneys note that claims are being pursued against drug maker Forest Laboratories alleging severe side effects, including suicidal thoughts, serotonin syndrome, and extreme withdrawal complications, caused by the antidepressant medication. More Lexapro lawsuits are expected as patients experience injuries after taking the drug, bad drug attorneys note.
If you or a loved one took Lexapro and suffered serious side effects, contact Attorney Group for more information. We offer free, no obligation consultations. We can answer your questions, and if you choose to pursue a claim we connect you with an affiliated Lexapro lawsuit attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process.
What is Lexapro?
Lexapro is used to treat depression and anxiety. It works by helping to restore the balance of a certain natural substance (serotonin) in the brain. Lexapro belongs to a class of drugs known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). It may improve your energy level and feelings of well-being and decrease nervousness.
Manufactured by Forest Laboratories, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Lexapro in 2002 for the treatment of depression and anxiety.
FDA Black-Box Suicide Warning
In 2004, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a black-box suicide warning for Lexapro. A black-box warning is the FDA’s strongest, and it requires drug manufacturers to include this warning in the labeling information for all SSRI and SNRI medications. These symptoms may include:
- Panic attacks
- Restlessness
- Symptoms of aggression
- Thoughts of suicide
- Extreme worry
- Abnormal excitement
Lexapro Birth Defect Risks
The FDA has listed Lexapro as a category C medication in pregnancy, meaning that animal studies have shown it to have an adverse effect on the fetus and there are no complete studies in humans. The FDA advises that pregnant and nursing mothers not take Lexapro unless the patient benefits outweigh the risks. But researchers have found that SSRIs increase the risk of infant heart defects, including persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN). PPHN is a rare condition seen in newborns whose circulatory systems do no adapt to breathing outside the womb. This leads to abnormal blood flow between the heart and lungs.
In addition, infants born to mothers who take Lexapro are known to have congenital heart defects, including atrial and ventricular septal defects, which disrupts the infant’s blood flow through the heart and forces the organ to work harder. Lexapro is also linked to infant neural tube defects, which can cause a malformed brain and skull, cleft palate, respiratory distress and possibly autism.
Lexapro Serotonin Syndrome
Serotonin is a chemical produced by the body that enables brain cells and other nervous system cells to communicate with one another. Too little serotonin in the brain is thought to play a role in depression. Too much, however, can lead to excessive nerve cell activity, causing a potentially deadly collection of symptoms known as serotonin syndrome. Symptoms of serotonin syndrome include:
- Hallucination
- Loss of balance
- Confusion
- Increased heart rate/abnormal heart beats
- Seizures
Serotonin syndrome can also occur if you take SSRIs, like Lexapro, with other drugs or supplements that affect serotonin levels, or when you take certain combinations of medications that affect serotonin levels in your body.
Lexapro Discontinuation Syndrome
Lexapro users experience severe withdrawal symptoms after discontinuing use, including mood swings, neurological problems and electric shock sensations. Patients describe these shocks as excruciating headaches that occur alongside bouts of nausea and dizziness. Some are so severe that patients cannot go to work. The FDA calls these symptoms Lexapro discontinuation syndrome. According to data collected by the agency, more patients who stopped use of Lexapro suffered from these sometimes debilitating effects than on other drugs in the same class.
Injured Patients May Be Entitled to Compensation
Drug makers have a duty to provide safe drugs. If there are risks of harm associated with their drugs, they also must provide adequate warnings. If a drug maker fails to fulfill this duty, it could be held liable in lawsuits for injuries that may result.
Patients who are injured by Lexapro may be entitled to compensation for damages, including:
- Medical expenses
- Pain, suffering, and mental anguish
- Loss of income or ability to work
If a patient dies from complications after taking Lexapro, family members may be entitled to compensation for the wrongful death of their loved one, including:
- Conscious pain and suffering of a loved one prior to death
- Pain, suffering, and mental anguish from the loss of a loved one
- Funeral expenses
Patients who have suffered severe side effects after taking Lexapro, as well as the families of those who have died as a result of complications with the drug, are encouraged to seek the advice of a Lexapro lawsuit attorney to learn more about their rights and remedies.
If you or a loved one suffered severe side effects after taking Lexapro, contact Attorney Group for more information.
When you contact us, an attorney will follow up with you to speak with you about your case or answer questions that you might have. There is no cost or obligation to speak with us, and any information you provide will be kept confidential.
Please note that the law limits the time you have to pursue a claim or file a lawsuit for an injury. If you think you have a case, you should not delay taking action.
