What is Lexapro?
Escitalopram, more commonly known by its brand name “Lexapro,” is one of many medications prescribed for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). Lexapro belongs to a category of antidepressants called SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), along with the popular medications Zoloft, Prozac, Celexa, and Paxil. SSRIs are believed to affect moods by restoring chemical imbalances in the brain involving serotonin. At this point in time, over eighteen million adults in the US have been prescribed Lexapro; in some cases Lexapro is prescribed to adolescent patients too. Recently the safety of using SSRI medications like Lexapro during pregnancy has been called into question, and many researchers believe that doing so can result in severe side effects in the form of congenital defects to the developing fetus.
Can I take Lexapro During Pregnancy?
The United States Food and Drug Administration currently puts prescription drugs into various categories based on their perceived risk to the mother and developing child. The Pregnancy categories range from “A” (no harm to mother or fetus) to Catgory “X” (should not ever be taken during pregnancy). Lexapro and other SSRI antidepressants are in Category “C,” meaning that animal testing suggests harm to fetus, but adequate clinical research does not yet exist for humans. This means that currently, despite reliable postulation that Lexapro taken during pregnancy can cause side effects to a fetus, it can still be prescribed to pregnant women.
Types of Lexapro Pregnancy Side Effects
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors are linked to an increased risk of many different harrowing birth defects including, but not limited to the following:
- Congenital Heart Defects
- Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension
- Abdominal Defect
- Cranial Skull Defects
- Neural Tube Defects
- Club Foot/Bilateral Club Feet
Lexapro Pregnancy Side Effect Lawsuits
Many of the side effects that can potentially occur when a woman takes Lexapro during any part of her pregnancy necessitate intensive and expensive neonatal care. Some require invasive surgical treatments, and a lifetime of careful monitoring by specialized medical professionals. Furthermore, having a child born with any, or a combination of these birth defects creates extreme emotional distress. Many female patients are not adequately warned of Lexapro Pregnancy Side Effects prior to conceiving a child. As a result hundreds of lawsuits have been filed against the pharmaceutical companies that make SSRI medications, like Lexapro.
Took Lexapro During Pregnancy – Talk to a Lexapro Lawyer
Did you take an SSRI antidepressant like Lexapro at any time during a pregnancy? Was your child born with any of the adverse side effects mentioned above? If you answered yes to these questions, you may be eligible for a Lexapro Pregnancy Side Effect Lawsuit. Call the Willis Law Firm today to have your potential claim evaluated confidentially and free of charge by a Top Trial Lawyer with the Highest Peer Rating Licensed to Practice in both Texas and New York. The Willis Law Firm is currently accepting antidepressant pregnancy side effects cases nationwide; call us today.