It’s important for women to remember that while drugs may be safe for you to take under normal circumstances, taking certain medications while pregnant could unborn children at serious risk of drug injuries.
Taking certain antidepressants during pregnancy can put children at risk of developing birth defects. One of the most common antidepressant birth defects caused by a class of drugs known as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) is a condition called Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension. Children suffering from the condition do not absorb enough oxygen into their bloodstream from the lungs and heart, which can lead to trouble breathing, a rapid heart rate, or even death.
To prevent these injuries, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced drug companies will now be required to disclose more information about the safety of their products on the label. This will include whether the product was tested for safety on humans or animals.
At Ferrer Poirot Feller Daniel, our drug injury lawyers have seen the effects of drug injuries on patients, and we are hopeful the new regulations will be successful in protecting children from such harm in the future.