Paxil® and Birth Defects

If you were given Paxil® while you were pregnant and your baby is born with one or more complications, our birth defect attorneys may be able to help you seek compensation for your child's injuries. To schedule a free and private consultation with a birth defect attorney, please contact us today. We represent affected families across the country.

What Is Paxil®?

Paxil® is in a class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) that make the body's naturally occurring substance serotonin more available to the brain. Serotonin acts in the brain to help stabilize mood.

Paxil® has a number of uses in patients. These include treatments for:

• Depression
• Panic disorder (sudden attacks of extreme fear and worry about these attacks
• Social anxiety disorder ( fear of interacting with others that interferes with daily living)
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (irritating thoughts that won't go away or the need to repeat an action over and over)
• Posttraumatic stress disorder (disturbing psychological symptoms that occur after a frightening or stressful experience)
• Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (distressing symptoms, both physical and psychological, that occur on a regular basis before each menstrual period)

This drug helps to control these conditions but does not cure them. It may take a couple of weeks before the full effect is felt. Patients should not suddenly stop taking Paxil® without talking with their doctor. The physician is likely to decrease the medication slowly over a period of a number of weeks.

If you suddenly stop the drug, you may experience some of the following symptoms of withdrawal: anxiety, confusion, depression, dizziness, fatigue, frenzied or unusually excited mood, headache, irritability, mood changes, nausea, numbness or tingling in the arms, legs, hands or feet, problems falling asleep or staying asleep, strange dreams and/or sweating. You should tell your doctor if any of these symptoms occur when your dose is being decreased.

Paxil® and Birth Defects

It might be preferable for some women to stay on an antidepressant while she is pregnant, to avoid the problems associated with depression and its effects on her pregnancy. But, some antidepressants are considered to be preferable to others. It might be important to change to a less risky drug during pregnancy.

The risks of taking Paxil®, when used during pregnancy, can be serious. The risks to the newborn that have been associated with taking Paxil® during pregnancy include:

• Fetal heart defects
• Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (a situation where the baby's lungs and circulatory system do not provide enough oxygen to the rest of the body)
• Anencephaly (a condition in which part of the skull and brain are missing)
• Craniosynostosis (this occurs when the sutures between the bones of the skull close prematurely and can result in a deformed-shaped head, increased intracranial pressure, seizures and developmental delay if not properly addressed when the baby is an infant, or if it cannot be treated)
• Omphalocele (a condition in which the contents of the abdomen protrude through the bellybutton)

Was Your Baby Born with a Birth Defect?

If you or a loved one took Paxil® or a similar drug while pregnant, your baby might be at an increased risk of suffering a birth defect. Our attorneys are experienced with birth defect claims and can help you seek compensation for birth defects associated with Paxil® and other medications.

To learn more, please contact us today. We will review your case for free to determine how we can help you.