Are SSRI antidepressant medications causing congenital birth defects? See the latest research for and against a causal link. A recent FDA advisory warned consumers that reports of adverse condition risks for PPHN (persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn) and heart and lung conditions in newborn babies was based on a single study which subsequent research has made inconclusive. Still, birth defect attorneys across the nation are investigating injury claims from families across the nation whose babies were exposed to SSRI medications in utero and suffered complications. SSRI birth defect allegations include a number of congenital problems ranging from heart defects, cranial malformations, spina bifida and other conditions, just to name a few. The following attempts to lay out the research, both for and against and provides our opinion on the matter as well as what can be done if your baby was diagnosed with a congenital defect. If you have a potential SSRI lawsuit and would like more information about your legal options, visit our website and share what happened to speak with a leading birth defect attorney about your rights and legal options today.

1. [IMPORTANT]
SSRI Birth Defect Lawsuit
Information

2. 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

3. The U.S. Addiction to
Antidepressants
Among teens and adults use
has jumped +400%
between 1988–1994 and 2005–
2008.

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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

8. 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)

9. 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)

10. SSRI Drug List Continued
• Paxil
• Prozac
• Sepram (Generic: Citalopram)
• Seromex
• Seronil
• Seroxat
• Wellbutrin (Generic: Bupropion)

11. 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)

12. 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

13. 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?”

14. 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

15. 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.

16. 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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