Major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and bulimia nervosa are just a few mental disorders that can devastate an individual and their families. For those who suffer from one of these disorders, medication can provide lifesaving relief from debilitating symptoms. Prozac is an antidepressant medication known as a SSRI, which has been used to treat these afflictions for several years. Although effective in subduing symptoms, SSRI drugs have come under increased scrutiny in recent years for their apparent link to serious birth defects.
In 2011, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned that SSRI antidepressants may cause serious birth defects in newborns if their mothers took these medications while pregnant.
Birth defects linked to Prozac include:
- Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension (PPHN)—a condition that causes blood vessels in the lungs to constrict, potentially requiring a lung transplant to survive.
- Autism—a mental condition that limits communication and relationship capacities, as well as the ability to process language and abstract thoughts.
- Septal Defect—a cardiac condition whereby holes in the walls of their heart develop, causing poor blood circulation. This condition requires open-heart surgery to correct.
If your child was born with a birth defect after you were prescribed a SSRI antidepressant during pregnancy, we want to help. You may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses and more. Call the drug injury lawyers at Ferrer Poirot Feller Daniel today for a free evaluation of your claim.