Patent Ductus Arteriosus
You Should Speak to a Paxil Lawyer if Your Newborn Suffers from Patent Ductus Arteriosis
The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) issued a Public Health Advisory in December of 2005 warning doctors and patients of the potential side effects from Paxil in causing increased risk of Patent Ductus Arteriosus in infants due to exposure to Paxil in the womb.
Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a condition in which a blood vessel called the ductus arteriosus fails to close normally in an infant soon after birth (patent means open). This condition leads to abnormal blood flow between the aorta and pulmonary artery which are the two major blood vessels carrying blood from the heart. Without closure of the ductus arteriosus, there will be abnormal blood circulation between the heart and lungs. There is treatment for Patent ductus arteriosus and the goal is to close the PDA. Unfortunately, the goal of GlaxoSmithKline was not to inform pregnant mothers that by taking Paxil while pregnant they could be exposing their fetus to such a birth defect.
Our Goal is to Make GlaxoSmithKline Pay for Their Mistake So You Don't Have To
At Chandler, Mathis & Zivley, PC, we are aware that a tragedy such as patent ductus arterioisus could have been avoided if mothers were informed of the dangers. The manufacturer of Paxil was aware as early as 1998 of the risk involved with taking the drug during pregnancy and neglected to inform the Food and Drug Administration. The FDA advisory to women to stop taking the medication if pregnant came out in 2005 and was based upon two separate studies conducted by Swedish and U.S. researchers. Serious birth defects such as patent ductus arteriosus were found to be caused by a woman taking Paxil or other SSRI antidepressants while pregnant.
Other birth defects found as a result of the study include:
- Heart defects
- Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN)
- Omphalocele (an abdominal birth defect)
- Hydrocephalus (water on the brain)
- Craniosynostosis (causes the head to be misshapen)
- Clubbed foot
- Anencephely (brain defects)
- Neural Tube Defects (Spina Bifida)
- Cleft Lip
Speak to a Paxil Lawyer
If you took Paxil while pregnant and your child was born with a patent ductus arteriosus birth defect, we strongly encourage you to contact our litigation team immediately at Chandler, Mathis & Zivley, PC. It might be too late to recover from the debilitating effects of Paxil, but an experienced Paxil litigation attorney can assist you in taking legal action against the makers of this dangerous drug. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Paxil Has Been Identified As A Cause Of Birth Defects Like Patent Ductus Arteriosus
[Posted on Jan 23]
The notion of giving birth to an unhealthy child is the worst thing a parent can possibly imagine. If it becomes a reality, it’s tremendously stressful, particularly if the child will need ongoing care for the condition for which they’ve been born with, including corrective surgery. This is something that the parents of children born with patent ductus arteriosus are experiencing and many are learning that it was the result of the mother’s continued use of Paxil during the pregnancy. The makers of Paxil, GlaxoSmithKline, offered no indications of the risks posed to the fetus if the mother takes the drug while pregnant until 2005, over a decade after it was first released on the market.
Many actually believe that had the FDA not reclassified Paxil following the undeniable evidence that it can cause serious birth defects like patent ductus arteriosus that GlaxoSmithKline may have waited even longer to offer those kinds of warnings. While corrective surgery for children with patent ductus arteriosus offers a chance to fix the issue, there are no promises that it will completely do so. In addition, a procedure of that nature on a child so young carries with it even greater risks but it’s often the only chance of ensuring the baby is able to live a long and healthy life.
The plight of these parents becomes even worse when they must deal with all of the ensuing medical bills that will come from the treatment of their child’s patent ductus arteriosus. Because these families now know that the health problems in their child could have been avoided if adequate warnings were given about the possible Paxil birth defects, they rightfully believe that there’s legal action that can be taken. By filing a prescription drug lawsuit against GlaxoSmithKline because they feel the company was negligent, these victims are seeking restitution for the pain and suffering incurred by their family.
The success of these Paxil lawsuits in recent years has proven that GlaxoSmithKline bears responsibility and that these families are entitled to financial compensation. If you’re experiencing a similar tragedy as the result of past Paxil use, you should consult with an attorney to determine what legal options are available to you. The Law Offices of Chandler, Mathis, & Zivley, PC, have been helping victims take the fight to GlaxoSmithKline and can advise you of what legal action is appropriate.
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