Recent studies conducted by the CDC and other groups have linked taking Prozac during pregnancy to serious birth defects. Hundreds of Prozac lawsuits have been filed, alleging that Eli Lilly, the maker of Prozac, failed to provide sufficient warning to mothers and doctors about the increased risk of birth defects like; Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension (PPHN), heart defects, abnormal brain and skull development, among others, if the drug was taken during pregnancy.
Despite the fact that since 2006 the FDA has acknowledged the link between Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) and the increased risk of birth defects, many SSRI manufacturers insist that the drugs are safe. Moreover, many Prozac lawsuits allege that although many of these drugs have FDA black box warnings, those warnings are not adequate considering the severity of the risks of birth defects.
Legal Assistance
If you took Prozac during pregnancy and your child was born with a birth defect or later developed related complications you may be entitled to compensation. For more information about Prozac lawsuits and to get information about you legal options please call (800) 452-0949 or fill out the below for.
Prozac and Birth Defects
Although Eli Lilly, the manufacturer of Prozac, maintains there is no conclusive evidence of the hazards of Prozac when taken during early pregnancy, at least one meta-analysis concluded the drug increases the risk of cardiovascular defects in infants four-fold when used during the first trimester.
SSRIs such as Prozac have also been associated with a serious birth defect known as anencephaly, which is a condition that causes abnormal development of the brain and skull. Infants with anencephaly often lack part or all of the cerebrum, as well as the bony covering located in the back of the head and bones commonly situated on the sides and front of the head. A recent study involving the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that women who took SSRIs such as Prozac had babies with anencephaly at a rate 2.4 times higher than that of mothers who did not take the medications.
When taken during the third trimester, Prozac has been linked to a number of different infant complications including:
- Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension (PPHN)
- Respiratory distress at birth
- Heart defects such as ventricular septal defects
- Abnormal brain and skull development (anencephaly)
- Blue/purple skin discoloration
- Difficulty breathing
- Seizures
- Instable body temperature
Respiratory Distress and PPHN
Medical studies indicate that approximately one-third of infants exposed to Prozac during the third trimester experience respiratory distress at birth, and infants exposed to Prozac and other SSRI antidepressants after the 20th week of pregnancy were found to be six times as likely to develop a serious condition known as pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) when compared with infants who were not exposed to the drugs. PPHN is a serious complication that frequently results in death.
Heart Defects
Studies have indicated that Prozac may increase the risk of heart defects in infants by four-fold if used during the first trimester of pregnancy.
Anencephaly
The use of Prozac during pregnancy may result in abnormal development of the brain and skull in newborns. Infants with this condition, known as anencephaly, may lack part or all of the brain, as well as the bones on the sides and front of the head. A study from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention discovered that women who took antidepressant medications such as Prozac gave birth to babies with anencephaly at a rate approximately 2.4 times higher than that of mothers who did not take the antidepressants.
Autism.
A July 2011 study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry claims that the risk of delivering a child with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) may double if SSRIs were used in the year prior to delivery and quadruple if taken in the first trimester of pregnancy.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
A study published in July 2011 in Obstetrics & Gynecology found that fetal alcohol spectrum disorders were ten times more common in fetuses exposed to SSRIs such as Prozac during pregnancy than in those not exposed to the medication. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders can cause physical and behavioral problems in a developing child, as well as abnormal facial features, stunted growth, attention disorders, speech and language delays and vision or hearing problems.
Filing A Prozac Lawsuit
If you took Prozac during pregnancy and your child suffers from a Prozac related birth defect you do have legal options available to you. If you are considering filing a lawsuit you should act quickly, as the laws in your state may restrict the time you have to file a claim. To learn more about your legal options call (800) 452-0949 or fill out the form at the top of this page.
