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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.

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