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Prozac Birth Defects
The medication Prozac (fluoxetine) is used to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), bulimia, panic disorder, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD.) It can also be prescribed to be used in conjunction with Zyprexa (olanzapine) for the treatment of resistant depression and the treatment of depression associated with bipolar disorder. Prozac is taken orally and is part of a group of antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). SSRI’s help keep a balance of serotonin levels in the brain in order to restore and stabilize the brain to a normal emotional state. Prozac has been prescribed to pregnant women and has been linked to some very serious birth defects including:
- Congenital Heart Defects, “holes in the heart”
- Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn(PPHN)
- Withdrawal Symtoms
- Abdominal Birth Defects (Omphalocele)
- Skull Defects (Craniosynostosis, “cloverleaf skull”)
- Neural-tube defects (brain and spinal cord)
- Club foot
Characteristics of Prozac Birth Defects
If your baby was born with a Prozac birth defect, you should learn about the defect and what can be done.
Prozac birth defects are especially prominent in babies exposed to the drug in the last trimester of pregnancy. A study was published that said mothers who used Prozac during the last trimester were over two times more likely to have babies that need special care and four times more likely to have babies that were born prematurely compared to babies that were only exposed early in the pregnancy.
One of the common and more severe birth defects that are associated with Prozac is Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the newborn (PPHN). PPHN is life-threatening and is a disorder where the arteries to the lungs of the newborn remain constricted after delivery. This limits the amount of blood flow to the lungs and therefore the amount of oxygen into the bloodstream. Even after treatment for this disorder, 10% - 20% of infants will end up dying.
Prozac birth defects are especially prominent in babies exposed to the drug in the last trimester of pregnancy. A study was published that said mothers who used Prozac during the last trimester were over two times more likely to have babies that need special care and four times more likely to have babies that were born prematurely compared to babies that were only exposed early in the pregnancy.
One of the common and more severe birth defects that are associated with Prozac is Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the newborn (PPHN). PPHN is life-threatening and is a disorder where the arteries to the lungs of the newborn remain constricted after delivery. This limits the amount of blood flow to the lungs and therefore the amount of oxygen into the bloodstream. Even after treatment for this disorder, 10% - 20% of infants will end up dying.
Prozac Lawsuit Attorneys
If you or a loved one have taken Prozac while pregnant and have given birth to a child with a congenital birth defect, you should contact our experienced Prozac birth defect lawyers. We will evaluate your case and advise you as to whether you are entitled to compensation. The medical costs associated with a birth defect are very high and the drug companies deserve to pay. Contact our Prozac birth defect lawyers here.
