Heart Defect Baby - Baby Heart Defect - Paxil Related Heart Defect

Studies Show Using Paxil While Pregnant Can Increase Your Chances of Having a Heart Defect Baby

The serious risks associated with pregnant women giving birth to a heart defect baby while taking Paxil have been documented since 2005, when the Food and Drug Administration prompted the drug's maker, GlaxoSmithKline, to revise its warning labels. This decision was made in light of studies that revealed the antidepressant's potentially harmful effects on unborn children, including the increased potential for women to give birth to a heart defect baby.

Unfortunately for many women, this information has come after they have already given birth to baby with some sort of heart defect. Even today, many women are still not fully aware of the risks associated with taking this medication during Pregnancy.

The Link Between Paxil And Having A Heart Defect Baby

In a 2005 study of 3,581 pregnant women, research revealed that the use of SSRI's (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), also known as antidepressants, during the first three months of their pregnancy resulted in the increased likelihood of women giving birth prematurely and delivering a heart defect baby that suffers from:

Atrial septal defects (ASD)
Ventricular septal defects (VSD)
Congenital malformations

In addition, these findings also showed that women who took Paxil during the first trimester of their pregnancy were up to two times more likely to give birth to a heart defect baby.

As a result, in December of 2005, Paxil was reclassified by the FDA as a Category D drug from a Category C for pregnant women, which means it has been shown to pose a high risk to fetuses.

Millions Of Women Unknowingly At Risk Of Having A Heart Defect Baby

According to the makers of Paxil, GlaxoSmithKline, a quarter of all patients who have been prescribed Paxil since its approval in 1993 are women of child bearing age, ranging between 18 and 45 years old. Statistics such as these exemplify the high number of women that may have unknowingly been put at risk of giving birth to a heart defect baby or a child that suffers from other Paxil birth defects.

Consequently, there are now more than 600 Paxil lawsuits pending throughout the US, Canada and the United Kingdom by mothers who have given birth to a child with heart defects, as well as others who have suffered from serious side effects believed to be associated with the use of Paxil.

If you believe that your baby or a baby you know suffers from Paxil birth defects, it is important that you realize that you are not alone, and that you act fast to receive medical treatment and legal assistance in filing a prescription drug lawsuit.

Help Is Available For Your Heart Defect Baby

If you are the parent of a heart defect baby, don�t suffer in silence. Get the professional legal help you are in need of with Chandler, Mathis & Zivley Law Offices. Contact a qualified Paxil attorney at our offices today via our contact form or by email in order to learn more about how we can assist you and your heart defect baby in fighting back against the makers of Paxil.

With more than 38 years of trial law experience, we can help you and your baby receive the compensation you are owed.

Featured Article:

The Birth Of Your Heart Defect Baby Could Be Related To Paxil Use And If So, You Have Legal Options

[Posted on Jan 06]

The FDA began issuing new warnings about the antidepressant Paxil in 2005. They reclassified the medication as a Category D drug, a move done to indicate the risks posed to fetuses if used by a mother during the pregnancy. Before this move was made by the FDA, the makers of Paxil did nothing to alert patients of the dangers of their product, even though there were many studies that suggested the risks much sooner. That research has shown mothers are at a much greater risk of giving birth to a heart defect baby if they continue to use Paxil while pregnant.

A long list of Paxil birth defects are now among the warnings that women are given when they’re prescribed the drug. A majority of those defects are congenital heart diseases like hypoplastic left heart syndrome, truncus arteriosus, pulmonary stenosis, double outlet right ventricle, patent foramen ovale and more. Had these women known that they were increasing their chances of having a heart defect baby, they would have stopped using Paxil but they weren’t given that choice. By the time most of these women learned about these Paxil birth defects, the damage was already done.

According to some estimates, as many as 2.5 million pregnant women have taken the medication and a significant portion of those women gave birth to a heart defect baby. These victims have rightfully taken legal action against GlaxoSmithKline in order to hold them accountable. In many cases, they’ve been able to receive financial compensation to offset the medical bills they’ve incurred from having to treat their heart defect baby. Pursuing a Paxil lawsuit isn’t going to be appropriate for everyone and the only way you can know for sure if yours is a situation that warrants legal action is by speaking with an attorney that is experienced in these cases.

The leading firm for representing Paxil lawsuits over the past several years has been the Law Offices of Chandler, Mathis, & Zivley, PC. Their clients have gotten expert legal advice and been able to get the financial assistance they need so that they aren’t overwhelmed by their medical bills and other expenses related to their heart defect baby. Chandler, Mathis, & Zivley offers a free legal consultation to former Paxil patients that have given birth to a child suffering from these conditions. They have the credibility necessary to help you determine what course of action is most appropriate given your circumstances.