Do Antidepressants Cause Birth Defects?

[IMPORTANT]

SSRI Birth Defect Lawsuit

Information

How Many Women Are Taking

Antidepressants in The U.S.?

10%: 1 in 10 Americans (men and women of all ages) taking antidepressant medication

25%: 1 in 4 American women in their 40s and 50s take antidepressants

Source: NCHS Data

The U.S. Addiction to

Antidepressants

Among teens and adults use

has jumped +400% between 1988–1994 and 2005–2008.

Women vs. Men(Long-term Antidepressant Use)

• Women are 2½ times more likely to be taking than men

• Over 60% of Americans taking antidepressants take for 2 years or longer, 14% for 10 years or more.

• ONLY 38.4% study of participants with 12-month clinician-identified depression met the 12-month MDE criteria

Source: NCBI Resources and NCHS Data

Use of Antidepressants in

Pregnancy?

• 8.7% women in labor had exposure to an antidepressant

• 6.2% exposed to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRIs)

• Exposed pregnancies growing: 5.7% to 13.4% (1999 to 2003)

Source: American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology

Antidepressants & Birth

Defects

According to an FDA Safety Alert:

Potential risk for SSRI antidepressant use during pregnancy and reports of a rare heart and lung condition in newborn babies based on single study – new studies: conflicting findings.

Potential Antidepressants

Birth Defects Under Review

The potential link between the following SSRI birth defects is under investigation:

• Hypoplastic left heart syndrome(HLHS)• Omphalocele• Spina bifida • Craniosynostosis• Tetralogy of fallot (TOF)• Holes in the heart

Congenital Defects Under

Investigation

More congenital defects being investigated for a possible causal link to SSRI use:

• Coarctation of the aorta• Heart defects• Transposition of the great arteries

(TGA)• Club foot• Ventricular septal defects (VSD)• Atrial septal defects (ASD)

What SSRI Drugs Are Under

Investigation?

• Aropax (Generic: Paroxetine)• Celexa• Cipramil• Effexor (Generic: Venlafaxine)• Emocal• Fevarin (Generic: Fluvoxamine)• Fontex (Generic: Fluoxetine)• Lexapro (Generic: Escitalopram)• Luvox• Opitar• Zoloft (Generic: Sertroline)

SSRI Drug List Continued

• Paxil• Prozac• Sepram (Generic: Citalopram)• Seromex• Seronil• Seroxat• Wellbutrin (Generic: Bupropion)

According to some studies:

What Studies Say About SSRIs

& Birth Defect Risks?

• BMJ published data suggests some birth defects have an occurrence rate at 2 - 3.5 times in infants of women treated with paroxetine or fluoxetine early in pregnancy.

• A study by Chambers et al. found a 6X increase in PPHN (persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn) among neonates whose mothers were exposed to an SSRI after 20 weeks of gestation

• A study by Källén, et al. found a statistically significant association between SSRI use and PPHN (the majority of exposures while in the the first trimester of pregnancy)

According to some studies:

SSRIs & Long-Term

Development Effects

• Harvard researchers linked prenatal SSRI exposure to nearly twice the risk for ADHD in children

• 51,000 babies included in a Norwegian study associated SSRI exposure during pregnancy with lower language competence

• Antidepressant use may cause an increased risk for giving birth prematurely

• In utero exposure being investigated for an increased risk of clubfoot, low birth weight and persistent pulmonary hypertension

Tinkering With Serotonin?

Maternal-fetal medicine specialist Dr. Adam Urato explained in the New York Times:

“Serotonin is a critical neurotransmitter and cell-signaling molecule… From the brain, it signals the neurons where to go, what to do, and how to develop.

It signals the heart; it plays an active role in the gut; and it plays an important role in the formation of the lungs. What it does during development is basically everything.”

Source: “Are Antidepressants Safe During Pregnancy?”

Medications & Tests

In most cases, medications haven’t been tested on pregnant women prior to receiving approval. The effects of these potentially dangerous drugs on infants is relatively unknown.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Dangerous Drug Attorneys

Investigating Patient Claims

• If you took SSRIs and your child was diagnosed with a birth defects or suffered an adverse health problem you believe is related to antidepressant use during pregnancy, share what happened with our

SSRI lawyers today to discuss your legal options.

Considering suing for compensation? Connect with a qualified lawsuit attorney who will make sure you are aware of your legal rights, and

ensure your voice and needs are not ignored.

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