Antidepressants Prozac, Celexa and Zoloft Are Linked to Birth Defects Like Autism

Up to 14 percent of women take antidepressant drugs. Some of these have alarming side-effects. When the women who are taking them are pregnant there’s another very serious consideration – the health of the unborn child.

Prozac, Celexa and Zoloft are popular antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. There’s a growing body of evidence that these drugs cause birth defects, complications after birth and even developmental delays and autism. These concerns are very real and have led to a flood of lawsuits.

The New York Times recently alluded to three studies that make alarming reading for women who take these drugs during pregnancy. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University reported in 2014 that boys with autism were nearly three times more likely to have been exposed to S.S.R.I.s before birth than other boys.

The Food and Drug Administration has issued strong warnings about these drugs, in particular in relation to Paxil.

Nolo lists nine antidepressants that may cause birth defects. The article states reports concerning the serious side effects from taking antidepressant drugs have increased in recent years, and “many lawsuits have been filed against drug manufacturers in connection with the side effects of antidepressants. The focus of these lawsuits is typically a products liability claim.”

As well as dangers to the unborn child, these drugs have been linked to a life-threatening condition called “serotonin syndrome” and suicidal thoughts in children,  teens and adults.

Thousands of lawsuits have been filed over these dangerous drugs, alleging sometimes fatal side effects from these drugs. As recently as March 2015, lawsuits were being filed over Celexa by women who said they were assured that Celexa was safe for use during pregnancy, but weren’t warned about the risk of congenital birth defects.

Defective product cases involving antidepressants or other pharmaceutical drugs are usually complex kinds of cases that lead to class actions. They are not the kind of lawsuits in which you can represent yourself effectively. The legal and medical issues in such cases are often complex and sophisticated. You should hire a lawyer who is familiar with these drugs and can help you join class actions. Call our Virginia dangerous drugs attorneys at 757.455.0077 for a free consultation.