Charleston SSRI Birth Defect Lawyer

SSRIs are used to treat depression, anxiety, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and social phobia. SSRIs, however, are a medication that might increase the risks of having a child with birth defects. And the drug maker did not warn its consumers about the devastating side effects.

If your child was born with a birth defect, and you have been taking SSRIs, come see us at Steinberg Law Firm. Here you have a safe place to tell your story and to find out how you can hold Big Pharma accountable for the damage SSRIs caused. A birth of a child should be a happy event and not one filled with pain and grief from the negligent marketing of a drug. We do understand your pain and are here to help you.

SSRI drugs named

The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first SSRI in 1988 and since then more of them have been developed and marketed. Currently, many SSRI drugs are on the market and you may have heard of some of them, but not have realized how dangerous they could be. The following is a list of drugs that have been linked to an increased risk of birth defects.

• Zoloft – sertraline (Pfizer)
• Paxil, Pexeva, Brisdelle, Paxil CR – paroxetine (GlaxoSmithKline)
• Lexapro – escitalopram (Forest Laboratories)
• Prozac, Sarafem – fluoxetine (Eli Lilly & Company)
• Celexa – citalopram (Forest Laboratories)
• Luvox – fluvoxamine (Jazz Pharmaceuticals)
• Symbyax – olanzepine/fluoxetine (Eli Lilly)
• Viibryd – vilazodone hydrochloride (MercKgaA, licensed by Clinical Data, bought by Forest Laboratories)
• Effexor (Venlafaxine) (Pfizer)
• Prisitq (Desvenlafaxine) (Pfizer)

Birth defects and SSRIs

Pregnant women should be very cautious about taking SSRIs. While it is possible for a mother taking SSRIs to have a healthy baby, the list of complications and defects from these drugs can prove to be dangerous. A baby born with birth defects may not necessarily require a birth defect surgery, a financially difficult situation that can burden a family for the rest of their lives and the life of their child. What’s more, even years after a child’s birth and corrective surgery, SSRI children require more procedures as they age.

Birth defects linked to SSRI drugs include:

• Miscarriage
• Right ventricular outflow tract obstruction (pulmonary atresia)
• Atrial septal defect (ASD)
• Heart malformations
• Persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN) – Studies show women taking SSRIs during the last three months of pregnancy were six times more likely to deliver babies born with PPHN.
• Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS)
• Transposition of great arteries (TGA)
• Coarctation of aorta
• Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF – four heart defects together)
• Ventral septal defect (VSD)
• Gastroschisis – stomach/intestine outside of body
• Abdominal wall defect (omphalocele)
• Cloacal exstrophy
• Intestinal atresia
• Anal atresia – complete/partial closure of anus
• Spina bifida
• Dandy-Walker Syndrome
• Anencephaly
• Hydrocephaly
• Encephalocele (neural tube defect/sac-like protrusions of brain)
• Cleft lip
• Cleft palate
• Cranial skull (craniosynostosis)
• Polydactyly
• Club foot – one/both
• Limb reduction
• Anotia/Microtia
• Mental deficiencies
• Esophageal atresia
• Diaphragmatic hernia
• Autism
• Hypospadias
• Congenital glaucoma
• Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome – infants in drug withdrawal
• Motor developmental delay

At the Steinberg Law firm we know that it is very costly for you and your family, financially and emotionally to cope and care for a child born with a birth defect. We can assist you in obtaining compensation for your losses by filing a defective drug, personal injury lawsuit against the manufacturer who did not warn your doctor or you of the devastating side effects of SSRIs.

Damages obtainable under the law

While each case is unique, with the circumstances of the case typically dictating a range of compensation for injuries, in general a plaintiff may be awarded:

• Medical costs
• Future medical costs
• Loss of potential earnings
• Pain and suffering
• Possibly punitive damages

The Steinberg Law Firm understands what it takes to make a strong defective drug case that results in fair and equitable compensation for you. Call us today for your free consultation and learn about your legal rights. Call The Steinberg Law Firm at 843-720-2800 as soon as possible to tell us your story.

Defective drug lawsuits and personal injury lawsuits are complex. Making sure you have an experienced SSRI birth defect lawyer from the Steinberg Law Firm makes certain you do not face any potential pitfalls.

Our initial consultation is confidential and completely free of charge. You pay nothing to speak to a lawyer about your case. We understand that the claims process can be difficult, and the paperwork can really pile up. Our attorneys can help you understand the details of your case, your legal rights, and how to get the compensation and justice you deserve.