Paxil Cardiac Birth Defect Lawyers | Paroxetine Attorneys
Paxil Cardiac Birth Defect Lawyers
Paxil birth defect cases are beginning to settle. What does this mean if you took Paxil or its generic form while you were pregnant? This means that time is running out for you to file a claim for the injuries your child suffered as a result of your Paxil use during pregnancy.
Paxil (Paroxetine or Paroxetine Hydrochloride) is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor or SSRI that is used to treat a variety of mental conditions, including depression, anxiety, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). SSRIs affect seratonin levels in the brain, a chemical neurotransmitter.
Taking Paxil while pregnant has been scientifically linked to serious birth defects, including heart defects, persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN), abdominal defects, skull and head defects, and many other injuries to babies.
The majority of birth defects found to result from Paxil use during pregnancy are cardiac defects. Babies born to mothers who took Paxil during their first trimester commonly develop cardiac problems such as ventricular heart defects and atrial septal heart defects, holes in the heart.
Paxil (generically paroxetine) has been marketed by GlaxoSmithKline since 1992, and has become one of America's most-commonly prescribed antidepressants. It was the first antidepressant formally approved by the FDA to treat social anxiety disorder. In 2005, the FDA warned that Paxil had been linked to an increased risk of birth defects, and asked GlaxoSmithKline to change their drug labels.
Studies on birth defects in babies born to women who took Paxil during the first trimester of pregnancy conclusively showed the drug was linked to twice the birth defects of other antidepressants. The most common health issue in study groups was ventricular septal defects, holes between the heart's two main pumping chambers.
Paxil's birth defect risk was origincally classified as Category C (Risk of Fetal Harm Cannot be Ruled Out), but after these studies, the classification was made more severe, Category D (Positive Evidence of Fetal Risk).
Paxil Cardiac Birth Defects
If your child has or had an atrial and/or ventricular septal defects, your child may likely have a claim to be compensated. This is even the case if he or she was born with a minor cardiac birth defect which can be resolved without treatment. Your child may also very likely have a claim to be compensated if he or she was born with serious Paxil cardiac birth defect symptoms which required or will require surgical repair.
GlaxoSmithKline, the British pharmaceutical company, is still spending millions of dollars to settle lawsuits for birth defects caused by Paxil use. In July 2010, news services reported GlaxoSmithKline agreed to pay more than $1 billion to resolve approximately 800 cases for Paxil birth defects. The drug maker provided average payouts of more than $1.2 million to families of injured children and still faces more than 100 birth defect cases. Don't miss your chance to recover the compensation your child deserves. Strict deadlines apply to your case. Contact a Paxil Lawyer today at info@smslegal.com.
