What is Lexapro?
Lexapro, or escitalopram, is a type of medicine used for the treatment of depression, anxiety, and some other mental health conditions. Lexapro belongs to a class of antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) that seek to remedy chemical imbalances in the brain regarding serotonin, a chemical that influences and stabilizes mood. A popular treatment option, Lexapro has been prescribed to over 18 million adults in the United States alone. Other popular SSRI antidepressants include: Zoloft, Paxil, Prozac, and Celexa.
FDA Lexapro Pregnancy Warning
The United States Food and Drug Administration classifies SSRI antidepressants as a “Category C” drug for pregnancy. “Category C” means that “studies…have revealed adverse effects on the fetus,” and it “should be given only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.” On 7/19/2006, the FDA issued a warning regarding a recently conducted study that demonstrated that newborns who’s mothers took SSRIs (like Lexapro) during pregnancy were SIX times as likely to be born with Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension (PPHN) when compared with infants who’s mothers did not take an SSRI at any time during the term of their pregnancy. The FDA is currently reviewing further research regarding this link, and has requested that all SSRI labels now include this information.
Lexapro Pregnancy Birth Defects
In addition to Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension, taking an SSRI antidepressant during pregnancy has been associated with several other congenital birth defects as well. Paxil, another popular SSRI changed its label in 2005 to include information regarding an increased risk of cardiac problems to the baby when taken during the first trimester of fetal development. Other reported Birth Defects occurring after taking Lexapro, or other SSRI, during pregnancy include: Craniosynotosis, Neural Tube Defects, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Ebstein’s Anomaly, Limb Reductions, Club Foot/Bilateral Club Feet, Omphalocele, and several others.
Lexapro Pregnancy Lawsuits – Talk to a Lexapro Lawyer
At the Willis Law Firm, we are committed to helping those who have had their world turned upside down by the significant birth defects that can follow Lexapro or other antidepressant use during pregnancy. If you or a loved one took an SSRI antidepressant during any part of your pregnancy and delivered a baby with any of the previously mentioned conditions, call the Willis Law Firm today for a confidential Lexapro Lawsuit Evaluation free of charge. You may have a legal claim to financial compensation for the associated suffering that accompanies these serious birth defects. All Lexapro Pregnancy Lawsuits are handled on a Contingency Fee basis, which means that you will not be charged legal fees unless a recovery is made.