Research On Paxil Has Linked The Medication To A Much Higher Rate of PPHN When Taken During Pregnancy
[Posted on Dec 28]
It took several years for there to be confirmation of the research done on Paxil that linked it to a number of congenital heart diseases and other birth defects. The drug company that manufactures Paxil, GlaxoSmithKline, had a vested interest in downplaying the studies released that showed a strong correlation to use of the medication and these birth defects. In 2005, the FDA finally began providing warnings to patients about the risks of using Paxil in or around pregnancy. However, Paxil had been on the market for well over a decade by that point which means thousands of women had risked the health of their child unknowingly.
Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN) is one of the most severe Paxil birth defects. A child born with PPHN will have exceptionally high blood pressure, specifically in the lungs. The condition stops blood from being pumped into the lungs and thus prevents oxygenation. When this occurs, there are a number of other health problems that can result like organ failure and in some cases, death. Research has shown that when a woman took Paxil after the 20th week of her pregnancy, her child was 600 more times likely to develop PPHN.
Immediate medical care is needed when a newborn is diagnosed with PPHN. Doctors will treat the condition in hopes of helping the child to live a normal and healthy life going forward. Even when that goal is reached, the families of these children struggle financially because this kind of treatment is extremely expensive and there was no way for them to prepare for these additional costs. Pharmaceutical lawsuits filed by these former patients and their families have proven that GlaxoSmithKline can be held accountable and forced to provide financial assistance to these victims.
The Law Offices of Chandler, Mathis, & Zivley, PC, have the necessary qualifications to assist you with a prescription drug lawsuit if you have a child born with PPHN that was caused by Paxil. You are encouraged to contact the firm and receive a free legal consultation in order to get additional information about a Paxil lawsuit. The most important thing you need to be concerned about is treating your child’s PPHN, not how you’re going to pay for that treatment. With the help of a Paxil attorney from Chandler, Mathis, & Zivley, PC, you can take action against GlaxoSmithKline.
