Known generically as paroxetine, Paxil is a selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI) anti-depressant manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline. Paxil was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1992 to treat patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder, general anxiety, and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).
In 2006 the FDA released updated information about Paxil and its association with congenital birth defects, specifically persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN), when used by women during pregnancy. They cited a study whose results showed a six fold increase in the risk of developing PPHN in children exposed to Paxil during pregnancy.
In addition to PPHN, Paxil has been linked to omphalocele and craniosynostosis. According to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in June 2007, children exposed in the womb to SSRI anti-depressants, such as Paxil, experienced a three percent increase in the risk of developing omphalocele and craniosynostosis.
In addition to PPHN, a serious health condition in which blood flow bypasses the lungs, two other birth defects associated with Paxil use during pregnancy are omphalocele and craniosynostosis. When a newborn child has omphalocele, his or her intestines and organs protrude from the navel, protected only by a thin sack. Craniosynostosis is a deformity of the skull wherein various plates of a child’s skull fuse at an abnormal time during gestation.
Carey Danis & Lowe is a national law firm based in St. Louis that represents victims of defective drugs, including Paxil. If your child was born with congenital birth defects, such as PPHN, omphalocele, or craniosynostosis, after being exposed to Paxil in the womb, Carey Danis & Lowe is available to assist you and your family in seeking legal recourse.
Discuss your case and explore your legal options with a Carey Danis & Lowe Paxil birth defects lawyer. Our initial consultations are free.
Carey Danis & Lowe Paxil lawyers have years of experience in managing personal injury claims and pharmaceutical litigation involving defective drugs. To develop strong court cases, we work closely alongside our team of medical experts and on-staff nurses, as well as our clients.
For more information about Paxil and birth defects, and for assistance with filing a Paxil birth defects lawsuit, contact Carey Danis & Lowe by phone at 800.721.2519, or by completing a confidential personal injury claim.
Stay current on Paxil birth defects lawsuits by reading the Carey Danis & Lowe personal injury litigation blog.
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