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Popular antidepressant PAXIL (generic: paroxetine) linked to heart defects in newborns. Free compensation and evaluation through http://browardfree.info/public/legalaid/paxil/
Paxil (paroxetine) is one of a class of medicines called Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs). Paxil was first approved in the United States on December 29, 1992, for the treatment of depression. Paroxetine is available as Paxil, Paxil CR, Pexeva, and generic paroxetine hydrochloride. It is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, a large pharmaceutical company with reported earnings of $43.7 billion.
Since September, 2005 information has been coming out that Paxil may cause birth defects, including cardiac (heart), pulmonary (lung), neural-tube defects (brain and spinal cord), craniosynostosis (abnormally shaped skull), infant omphalocele (abdominal wall defects), club foot (one or both feet turn downward and inward), and anal atresia (complete or partial closure of the anus). The FDA issued an alert in July 2006 warning about the increased risk of Neonatal Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension (PPHN) by mothers taking SSRI antidepressants such as Celexa (citalopram), Fluvoxamine, Lexapro (escitalopram), Paxil (paroxetine), Prozac (fluoxetine, Symbyax (olanzapine and fluoxetine) and Zoloft (sertraline).
Do I have a Paxil® birth defect related Lawsuit?
If you are one of the thousands of women who took Paxil (generic: paroxetine) while pregnant, you and your child have legal rights. Hundreds of families have filed lawsuits to recover damages for injuries to their children.
Even if you just suspect that Paxil caused some problems, go on record now. Do not take the risk of having your claim rejected because you waited too long to see an attorney.
For a confidential and FREE evaluation of your child’s claim, please use the quick form
on http://browardfree.info/public/legalaid/paxil/ to submit your information electronically.
The FDA issued a statement in which it stated: “It is very important that children and adolescents not stop taking Paxil suddenly, as there is a risk of discontinuation effects. Caretakers of children and adolescents currently taking Paxil should consult their doctor to discuss the best course of action. …”
What is Neonatal Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension (PPHN)?
In the womb, the pathway of your baby’s blood circulation is different than it is after birth. In the uterus, a baby’s circulation bypasses the lungs, and instead the placenta, through the umbilical cord, serves as the organ of gas exchange. The pulmonary artery – which, after birth, will carry blood from the heart to the lungs – in utero sends blood directly back to the fetal heart through a fetal blood vessel called the ductus arteriosus.
When a baby is born and begins to breathe air on their own, the baby’s circulatory system is shifting from the placenta to the lungs serving as the organ of gas exchange. The pressure in the lungs changes as air enters and inflates the lungs. Because of this, the ductus arteriosus, which previously supplied the fetal heart with blood, closes for good. Blood returning to the heart from the body can now be pumped into the lungs, where oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged. The blood is then returned to the heart and pumped back out to the body in an oxygen-rich state.
A dramatic cardiopulmonary transition occurs at birth, characterized by a rapid fall in pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and pulmonary artery pressure and a 10-fold rise in pulmonary blood flow. In some newborns, however, the normal decrease in pulmonary vascular tone does not occur, and the result is persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN).
In a baby with PPHN, the fetal circulatory system doesn’t switch over. The ductus arteriosus remains open, and the baby’s blood flow continues to bypass the lungs. Even though the baby is breathing, oxygen in the breathed air will not reach the bloodstream. Because the blood returning from the body is unable to enter the lungs properly – and instead flows through the still-open ductus arteriosus – it returns to the heart in an oxygen-depleted state.
Questions and Consultations
If you or a family member has used the prescription drug Paxil and noticed adverse side effects, such as suicidal thoughts or birth defects, you should contact a physician immediately. If you would like to discuss your rights, are interested in more information on Paxil litigation, or if you have information about the cases that you would like to share with us, please click here to fill out a short evaluation form, and an experienced member of our staff will call you to discuss your potential rights concerning Paxil. Consultations incur no obligation on your part and all initial consultations are free of charge and do not create an attorney-client relationship.
When I first started taking Paxil my doctor told me the side effects, and I was also told that Paxil can cause thyroid and liver disease with long term use. So I was sent for blood tests every 6 weeks to monitor my thyroid and liver levels. Everything seemed fine. It wasn’t until 4 years into using the wonder drug that I developed hypothyroid disease—no one else in my family has it. At which point, my doctor denied ever saying it was a side effect of the drug.
– D. Unger