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As attorneys that are representing children born with birth defects after taking Paxil, Wellbutrin, Zoloft, and Effexor, we wanted to advise that an Ohio woman has filed a lawsuit against GlaxoSmithKline with the client alleging Paxil caused birth defects.
Effexor Birth Defect: Antidepressant Pregnancy Side Effects Endanger Life of Newborns
Women taking Effexor to overcome anxiety and depressive disorders during pregnancy face the increased risk of giving birth to babies with heart and lung defects. Effexor birth defect lawsuits filed in the state and federal courts have blamed the SNRI antidepressant for causing malformations, physical deformities, underdeveloped internal organs, neonatal heart problems, and fatal respiratory distress in newborns. Research revelations have also warned of autism, growth problems, neo-behavioral syndrome, and inappropriate brain development, which may impact their quality of life forever.
Effexor Antidepressant: The Drug Profile
Wyeth, a Pfizer subsidiary since 2009, was permitted by the FDA to introduce Effexor in 1993. First of the SNRI antidepressants to hit the market, the Venlafaxine-containing drug was prescribed to adults subject to depression, anxiety, and panic disorders. The drug helps perk up serotonin and norepinephrine neurotransmitters, which enhance the feeling of well being and keep anxiety away. The manufacturer’s claim of fewer side effects and better result led to an increased use of the drug by users, including pregnant women and the drug was listed as one among the 15 most prescribed medications in 2011.
However, the disclosure of the risk of Effexor birth defects in children born to mothers treated with the drug raises serious questions on the claim of the manufacturer and the efficacy of the antidepressant. Many of the women users have initiated Effexor birth defect lawsuits claiming compensation for the antidepressant pregnancy side effects that resulted in life-long heart complications, development problems, autism, and other fatal medical conditions in their children.
Effexor Birth Defect Research Studies
- Effexor use during pregnancy cause two-fold increase in the risk of babies born with hypoplastic heart or valve problems. (British Medical Journal, 2009)
- Developmental delays and autism are likely in babies exposed to Effexor during the prenatal stage. (Pediatrics journal, March 2010)
- Persistent pulmonary hypertension in newborns is due to Effexor birth defects caused by the antidepressant’s pregnancy side effects. (New England Journal of Medicine, 2006)
- A survey of more than 100,000 case studies concluded that women treated with Effexor are twice more prone to have babies with birth defects than those not treated with it. (British Medical Journal, August 2013).
In 2004, a FDA advisory warned of possible association between Effexor pregnancy side effects and neonatal behavioral syndrome and neurological disorders in babies. The American Academy of Pediatrics also made a similar appeal to its members in 2012 to consider the risk of birth defects in children while prescribing the drug to expectant mothers.
Important Effexor Birth Defects
- Lung disorders, such as Persistent pulmonary hypertension and acute respiratory distress
- Cardiovascular problems, such as hypoplastic heart, faulty valves, septal hole, and circulatory distress inhibiting blood flow
- Anus and vertebra malformations
- Brain and skull deformities
- Autism and neurological problems in children
- Poor growth and development
Effexor Birth Defect Lawsuit
Two of the earliest Effexor birth defect lawsuits filed by two Philadelphia families in August 2012 brought into light the horrible pregnancy-linked side effect injuries the antidepressant caused to children. Mothers took Effexor without being aware of its birth defect side effects. One gave birth to a girl with fused skull, a medical condition known as craniosynostosis. It caused immense pressure in the brain and the baby had to undergo surgery to make room inside her skull. The second mother’s baby had a hypoplastic heart with valves not fully developed. The conditions demand valve implants at different stages, and ongoing care and heart transplant is the only permanent solution.
The first Effexor birth defect lawsuit is expected to be tried in November 2015. Meanwhile, new litigations continue to pour in seeking product liability blaming the manufacturer for withholding vital clinical trial data indicating possible the pregnancy-linked side effects of the antidepressant.
Contact an Effexor Birth Defect Lawyer Today.
If your child was born with a birth defect and you or a loved one took Zoloft during the first trimester or pregnancy, please contact us immediately.
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