Truncus Arteriosus
Paxil Known to Cause Truncus Arteriosus in Newborns
It has come to be known that taking Paxil during the first trimester of pregnancy has caused severe birth defects in infants. One of these defects is called Truncus Arteriosus. Sometimes known as Persistent Truncus Arteriosus, this is a rare congenital heart disease where the Truncus Arteriosus, an embryological structure, is not properly divided into the pulmonary artery and aorta. Babies with Truncus Arteriosus have oxygen levels lower than normal resulting in cyanosis or turning blue. Congestive heart failure can develop within the first few weeks of life and there may be liver damage as well. It can be treated with neonatal surgical repair, but that can be hard on a newborn. Having a child born with Truncus Arteriosus can be stressful for the parents and life-endangering for the child. This was not the result that parents had in mind when the mother began taking Paxil to relieve symptoms of depression, which the drug was supposed to treat.
The makers of Paxil, GlaxoSmithKline, were aware of the dangers of taking the drug during the first trimester of pregnancy as early as 1998. They failed however to tell the Food and Drug Administration, which issued a warning to pregnant women to stay away from Paxil in 2005 because of the increased risk in heart defects in newborns. The FDA conducted studies that showed that heart defects in infants rose to between 1.5 and 2 percent when the mother was taking Paxil. Some of these heart defects include:
- Tetralogy of Fallot
- Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome
- Interrupted Aortic Arch
- Transposition of the Great Arteries
A parent that took Paxil thinking it was going to help depression never counted on this happening. Now they will have to pay out money for operations and cardiologists probably for the rest of their child�s life.
However, they can make the guilty party pay with the help of a qualified attorney. A good attorney will help you get the right amount of compensation you deserve from the makers of Paxil. They knew the consequences of pregnant women taking their medication and should own up to their end of it. Most of these companies will refuse to offer any compensation without litigation, so you will need a lawyer who knows how to take them on in court.
You do not have to look far for a good law firm that handles Paxil cases. Chandler, Mathis & Zivley, PC has an experienced team of lawyers who know how to effectively take on pharmaceutical companies that place harmful products on the market. No child should be born with a defect such as Truncus Arteriosus, Spina Bifida, Gastroschisis or any other defect due to Paxil intake. Give us a call today and we will provide you with a free consultation.
Corrective Surgery For Children Born With Truncus Arteriosus Caused By Paxil Will Be Expensive And Risky
[Posted on Sep 06]
A newborn baby born that has been diagnosed with truncus arteriosus will likely need to undergo neonatal surgery soon after birth. Surgery represents the only chance the child has to overcome this congenital heart condition so that they are able to live a normal and healthy life. Corrective surgery for Truncus Arteriosus does not always resolve the problem, which sees the structure within the heart not divide into the pulmonary artery and aorta as it normally should. The condition results in lower levels of oxygen for the child and often can lead to congestive heart failure shortly after birth. There are certainly risks with surgery on a child of this age but they are risks that almost certainly will need to be taken
Even when Truncus Arteriosus can be fixed through surgery and the child is able to fully overcome the condition, the costs of this kind of medical care and the extended hospital stays that are required are very expensive. The families of these children often face financial hardships as a result. As if the stress of an unhealthy newborn wasn’t bad enough, dealing with extensive medical bills and debt only makes the situation worse.
This is why when it was revealed that one of the causes of Truncus Arteriosus is Paxil use by the mother during pregnancy, former patients were devastated. While the FDA has changed their classification of Paxil in recent years to warn against the potential harm it can cause when used by a woman during pregnancy, it was too late. For years, women were regularly prescribed the antidepressant for treatment of anxiety, stress, depression and other behavioral disorders with no indication that it could harm their unborn child. This means that Truncus Arteriosus as the result of Paxil use should have been avoided.
It’s this negligence on the part of the makers of Paxil that has prompted numerous pharmaceutical lawsuits. Victims feel that GlaxoSmithKline, the company that manufactures Paxil, is responsible for their child’s Truncus Arteriosus or one of the many other Paxil birth defects that has been linked to the medication. By filing a Paxil lawsuit with the help of a skilled attorney, these families are winning financial compensation in court which helps them cover the medical expenses that they’ve incurred. A Paxil attorney can advise you regarding legal action that is appropriate and help you hold GlaxoSmithKline accountable for the suffering they’ve caused you and your family.
Read More Articles Below:
Pharmaceutical Lawsuits Can Bring Compensation to Those Who Have Suffered from Paxil
Seek Legal Help Today if You Blame Paxil for Your Child�s Truncus Arteriosus
Do You Believe Paxil is to Blame for Your Child�s Truncus Arteriosus?
