Paxil is prescription anti-depressant manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline that has been closely linked to birth defects. It is part of a family of drugs called “selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors” designed to treat depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive compulsive disorder, and anxiety. Taking this medicine during pregnancy can cause: brain and spinal cord injury, heart injury, lung injury, abnormally shaped head/skull, abdominal wall injury, club foot and closure of the anus.
There is a growing concern that Paxil is extremely dangerous when taken by pregnant women due to the potential birth defects that can be caused from just a 20 mg prescription dosage. For parents who have a newborn baby with a diagnosed birth defect, a Paxil birth defect claim may be lurking if the natural mother ingested the drug shortly before or during pregnancy.
In addition to causing birth defects, Paxil is known to carry some very serious side effects, including:
- Loss of hair
- Grinding of the teeth
- Chronic coughing
- Anemia
- Increased alcohol use
- Suicidal tendencies
- Death
Paxil can be potentially lethal if taken with other prescription medications such as antidepressants and thioriadazine. If you are taking Paxil and experience any of these serious side effects, victims should discontinue use and seek medical care immediately.
A report in the British Medical Journal has found that pharmaceutical companies such as British drug giant GlaxoSmithKline underreported findings from studies of their drugs. The report cited studies of the antidepressant Paxil, which contained important side effect information that largely went unreported.
A New York Supreme Court found GSK guilty of misrepresenting the data from clinical trials of Paxil and withholding information about the drug. The BMD study alleges that outcome reporting bias prevents medical associations like the Food and Drug Administration from being able to fully assess a drug’s risks.
Paxil is a top-selling drug in a class of antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). Recent studies of SSRIs have found an increased risk of serious birth defects such as congenital heart defects and spinal bifida in women who use the drugs during pregnancy.
Paxil Lawsuit Attorneys – Paxil Claim for Compensation
If your child has suffered a birth injury due to your use of Paxil, the birth defect lawyers at Rasansky Law Firm will file a product liability claim for compensation on your behalf. Paxil birth defect claims vary in compensation depending upon the type of injuries sustained and the extent of exposure to the drug.
An unsafe drug attorney whom deals with Paxil lawsuits will request medical records from a victim’s treating physician and pharmacy to verify the prescription dosage and exposure. The link between Paxil and injury can be made by a specialist as long as the medical records reconcile. In September 2005, the FDA warned that Paxil doubled the risk of heart defects. It is now suspected that Paxil can cause the urfollowing birth defects: heart failure, seizes, kidney failure, brain bleeding, and death.
Contact a Paxil birth defect lawyer using the contact information on this website and speak with a attorney immediately about your claim.