Paxil antidepressant birth defects

Paxil is in a class of drugs known as SSRI. Paxil is in the dangerous pregnancy drug category D. A pregnancy category D requires a labeled warning regarding the use of the product during pregnancy.

Pregnancy category D demonstrates there is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reactions data from marketing experience or studies in humans, but the potential benefits from the use of Paxil in pregnant women may be acceptable despite its potential risks (for example, if the drug is needed in a life-threatening situation or serious disease for which safer drugs cannot be used or are ineffective).

However, in this case Paxil is not the only antidepressant in the marketplace and pregnant women or women who are thinking about getting pregnant should be taken a safer antidepressant.

Studies show that infants who were exposed to Paxil in the first trimester of pregnancy have an increased risk of congenital malformations, particularly heart malformations. A study based on Swedish national registry data revealed that infants exposed to Paxil during pregnancy had an increased risk of heart-related malformations.

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Cardiac malformations of Paxil-exposed infants were primarily ventricular septal defects (VSD) and atrial septal defects (ASD). Septal defects range in severity from resolving spontaneously to requiring surgery.

A separate retrospective U.S. study evaluated 5,956 infants of mothers who took antidepressants during the first trimester. This study showed a trend towards an increased risk for cardiovascular malformations from Paxil compared to other antidepressants. Of the dozen Paxil-exposed infants with heart malformations, nine infants had ventricular septal defects. This study also suggested an increased risk of overall major congenital malformations including heart defects for Paxil compared to other antidepressants.

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Were you taking Paxil while pregnant? Does your baby suffer from heart birth defects? Ask Monheit Law about your legal options in filing a claim against the dangerous antidepressant drug Paxil.