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Prozac

Attention: The drug Prozac (Fluoxetine) has not been recalled by the Federal Drug Administration. However, it has been flagged as a potentially harmful drug that many consumer watchdog groups have been investigating. If you are currently taking Prozac, do not discontinue use without first consulting a doctor. If you are considering the use of Prozac, particularly if you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant, review the information on this page and consult with your doctor.

Prozac (fluoxetine), an antidepressant prescribed to millions of children and adults in the United States, belongs to a class of drugs known as Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors (SSRIs). Prozac is used for the treatment of severe depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, bulimia, obesity, panic disorders, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Prozac, like other SSRI drugs Zoloft and Paxil, works by boosting serotonin levels in the brain, a chemical linked to the regulation of mood, sleep, and appetite.

Ever since the FDA approved Prozac (made by Eli Lilly) in 1998, the drug has been frequently over-prescribed and is one of the most popular antidepressants on the market. However, thousands of reports claiming adverse reactions to Prozac-- including serious injury and death-- have made Prozac one of the most controversial drugs on the market.

Prozac Side Effect Rists

Medical experts have established a positive link between Prozac use and the increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children. In response, the FDA requires Prozac labeling to carry a black box warning (the strictest warning possible) to inform consumers about this serious Prozac risk. Prozac has also been linked to a variety of other rare, but serious side effects.

Prozac and PPHN

A major study published in the New England Journal of Medicine on February 9, 2006 revealed that taking Prozac during the third trimester of pregnancy can more than doubles the risk of delivering a child with a rare but potentially fatal condition called Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN).

PPHN is a serious condition-beginning in the first few hours or days of a newborn's life-in which a child's respiratory system has trouble adapting to the outside world. As a result of this complication, the lungs do not function as necessary and oxygen does not properly reach the blood, the organs, and other tissues of the body. This oxygen-deprived state puts the newborn at risk for serious complications, including death. Aggressive treatment is often necessary to treat a baby with PPHN. Despite the best treatment endeavors, ten to twenty percent of all babies with PPHN do not survive.

If you took Prozac during your pregnancy and your child developed PPHN, you may be eligible to recover compensation for your medical expenses, pain and suffering, and more. Our qualified and experienced attorneys would like the opportunity to help you and your family. We provide a FREE, NO OBLIGATION consultation so that you can learn more about your legal rights and options. Please contact us today to speak with a qualified and experienced attorney who can determine the best way to protect your legal interests.

More Prozac Resources

MedLine Plus Drug Information - Guide to prescription and over-the-counter medications provided by the United States Pharmacopeia.

Prozac.com - Your Guide to Evaluating and Recovering from Depression.