Paxil® Brain Defect
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A link between Paxil® and brain defects in babies born to women who took Paxil® during their pregnancies has recently received much attention in the U.S. media. This link was highlighted in a 2007 study revealing that women who take certain SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors)—including Paxil®—during pregnancy may be at a significantly higher risk of having a baby with a brain defect.
Paxil® Use During Pregnancy
SSRIs are prescribed as a treatment for depression and other disorders, and it may be inevitable that some women are taking Paxil® while they are pregnant — whether they know that they are pregnant or have not yet found out about the pregnancy.
In some cases, a woman whose pregnancy is known is being treated with Paxil® because of severe depression that has not been successfully treated with a less risky medication or therapy; in such circumstances, the ratio of the benefits vs. risks of Paxil® must be considered.
In other cases, a woman becomes pregnant while she is taking Paxil®, but she doesn't know about the pregnancy for weeks or perhaps months. About half of the pregnancies in the U.S. are unintended, and a woman may not be concerned about the Paxil®-brain defect connection until she finds out she is pregnant.
Unfortunately, birth defects (including brain defects) are most likely to develop during the first trimester of a pregnancy, when a fetus is in its earliest stages of development. Even so, other birth defects can and do arise later in pregnancy.
Anencephaly
A significant connection between pregnant women's Paxil® use and brain defects came to light in a 2007 report published in The New England Journal of Medicine. This study found that women who took SSRIs such as Paxil® during their pregnancy had a 2.4 percent higher risk of having a baby with anencephaly (no forebrain). Anencephaly is a heart-breaking condition for any parent; the baby is severely malformed and unable to function normally. A baby with anencephaly will die before or within a few days of birth.
Craniosynostosis
The same study, which gathered data from a large nationwide review of birth defects from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, also found a link between the use during pregnancy of SSRIs such as Paxil® and a brain defect called craniosynostosis, a condition in which the skull of the fetus forms too early, preventing the brain from growing properly. Craniosynostosis is a very severe, life-threatening and debilitating brain defect.
Seeking Legal Help
If you took Paxil® during your pregnancy and your child suffers from a Paxil®-related brain defect or other medical condition, you can learn more about your legal rights and options from an experienced attorney. Contact a lawyer experienced in dangerous drug litigation today and arrange a private consultation with a professional who understands your circumstances and concerns.
