Paxil

Paxil side effects may lead to birth defects when used during pregnancy.  Paxil lawsuits are being filed by attorneys in the US, contact a Paxil lawyer if your child has been affected by Paxil birth defects.

Recent studies show that the antidepressant drug Paxil may be linked to several serious Paxil side effects, particularly birth defects among infants exposed to the drug during pregnancy. Unfortunately, consumers across the country continue to take Paxil, which is considered one of the most commonly prescribed antidepressants available in the U.S. Paxil (paroxetine) was initially approved by the FDA in 1992 for the treatment of major depressive disorder, although the FDA added an indication in 1996 for major panic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder, in 1999 for social anxiety disorder, in 2000 for post-traumatic stress disorder, and in 2001 for generalized anxiety disorder. Paxil belongs to a class of antidepressant drugs called SSRIs, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, which function by restoring the balance of serotonin in the brain, a neurotransmitter responsible for controlling mood. Paxil is currently manufactured by pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline.

Amid new information about potential Paxil birth defects, serious concerns have been raised about the safety of this medication, especially in treating pregnant women. In fact, the possible benefits of Paxil may actually be outweighed by the potential risks involved in using Paxil in any women of childbearing age. If you took Paxil while pregnant and your child was born with a serious birth defect, contact a Paxil attorney immediately. Your child may be entitled to lifetime care or financial compensation for his injuries, which you can collect by filing a Paxil lawsuit against GlaxoSmithKline.

Potential Paxil Birth Defect Side Effects

According to recent studies, women who take SSRI antidepressant drugs like Paxil may have a significantly increased risk of giving birth to infants with one or more major birth defects. Among these potential Paxil birth defects are:

• Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN)
• Heart defects
• Craniosynostosis
• Omphalocele
• Neural tube birth defects
• Limb defects
• Cleft lip
• Cleft palate
• Anal atresia

Due to this potential for causing serious fetal harm, the FDA has advised pregnant patients and healthcare professionals to consider all benefits and risks associated with Paxil treatment before beginning or continuing Paxil treatment. If you are currently taking Paxil and you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, consult your physician to discuss alternative treatment options. It may not be safe to suddenly discontinue use of a prescription medication, but with your doctor's help you can find a safer way to treat your condition to avoid potential Paxil side effects.

FDA Warnings for Alleged Paxil Birth Defects

In 2005, the FDA issued a public health advisory alerting patients and healthcare professionals about the agency's decision to elevate the pregnancy category of Paxil from C to D. Category D is reserved for drugs which positive human evidence shows may cause serious harm to a fetus when taken during pregnancy. This FDA action was taken after reviewing the results of two unpublished epidemiology studies, in which researchers found a potential link between fetal exposure to Paxil and the development of cardiac side effects. The first study used Swedish national registry data and indicated that women who took Paxil during early pregnancy had a two-fold increased risk for having a baby with a heart defect compared to the entire national registry population. The second study was conducted in the U.S. and determined that infants born to women who took Paxil during the first trimester of pregnancy had a 1.5-fold increased risk for heart defects and a 1.8-fold increased risk for birth defect side effects overall, compared to infants whose mothers took other antidepressants during the first trimester.

In 2006, the FDA issued another public health advisory warning patients and healthcare providers about the increased risk of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) among infants exposed to SSRI antidepressants like Paxil after the twentieth week of pregnancy. This notice was directly influenced by a New England Journal of Medicine study published earlier that year in which researchers found a shocking six-times increased risk of PPHN among infants whose mothers took an SSRI like Paxil, compared to infants whose mothers received no antidepressant treatment while pregnant. The NEJM published two additional SSRI side effect studies the following year, the first of which indicated that infants whose mothers took an SSRI like Paxil during early pregnancy were nearly twice as likely to develop club foot, anal atresia and limb defects. Researchers also found a potential connection between SSRIs like Paxil and cleft palate, cleft lip and neural tube birth defects. The second study determined that infants exposed to SSRIs like Paxil during pregnancy were more than twice as likely to suffer from devastating birth defects like omphalocele, anencephaly, and craniosynostosis.

Paxil Attorneys for Side Effects

The birth defect side effects potentially associated with SSRI antidepressants like Paxil are serious and can significantly influence an affected individual's quality of life. If you or a loved one has suffered from a severe side effect which you believe to be associated with Paxil, contact an experienced Paxil attorney to discuss the benefits of filing a Paxil lawsuit against GlaxoSmithKline. The goal of Paxil lawsuits and potential Paxil class action lawsuits is to seek financial compensation for your injuries and medical expenses, as well as the pain and suffering endured by you and your family. Consumers expect their prescription medications to effectively treat their conditions without causing them any unnecessary harm. Unfortunately, there are some drugs currently on the market for which the potential risks actually outweigh any benefits of the treatment. Too often, pharmaceutical companies take advantage of consumers by concealing the side effects of their medications and making their products more appealing to the public. This deceptive practice exposes millions of consumers to serious injury and possible even death. By hiring a qualified Paxil lawyer, victims of alleged Paxil birth defects can protect their rights and bring public attention to the dangers of certain pharmaceutical drugs.