When you decide to start or continue a prescription medication during pregnancy, it is a difficult decision to make. You want to have all of the available information about the potential side effects and risks that the medication could have for you and your developing child. It is the responsibility of the drug’s manufacturer to research that information and readily provide it to any potential consumers; when this fails to happen, often a lawsuit will be filed against the pharmaceutical company for related damages. In the case of the antidepressant medication Effexor, lawsuits have been filed against its maker, Wyeth, alleging that pregnant women were not adequately counseled and warned regarding the potential for serious birth defects, including the abdominal wall defect Omphalocele.
About Effexor Omphalocele
Omphalocele is a congenital (present at birth) abdominal wall defect that occurs when the muscles of the umbilical ring (stomach wall) fail to seal properly and the intestine sticks out of the umbilical cord. This Effexor birth defect can vary greatly in size; in a small defect only the intestines will protrude, but in a larger omphalocele the spleen or liver may also stick out. Of babies born with Effexor omphalocele, between twenty five and forty percent will have other birth defects present, such as a hernia or congenital heart defect. Other antidepressant medications that have been linked to Omphalocele include:
- Lexapro
- Prozac
- Zoloft
- Paxil
- Celexa
When taking an antidepressant medication like Effexor results in omphalocele, many families choose to pursue an Effexor omphalocele lawsuit in order to help with some of the financial burdens that accompany this medical condition.
Effexor Omphalocele Symptoms and Complications
Because Effexor omphalocele occurs outside of the body, this abdominal wall defect is readily visible at birth. Sometimes a prenatal ultrasound will recognize the presence of an omphalocele prior to birth as well. This type of Effexor birth defect is repaired with surgery in order to push its contents back to its appropriate location inside of the abdomen. When an omphalocele is too big to be put in the abdomen, it is necessary to wait until the skin grows around the sac, and further cosmetic repairs can be done later in life. Intestinal infections can occur with this defect and require medication as well. These various surgeries and treatments can be very costly, and sometimes an Effexor Omphalocele Lawsuit can help to provide some financial relief.
File an Effexor Omphalocele Lawsuit: Talk to an Attorney
Although located in Houston, the Willis Law Firm is currently reviewing antidepressant birth defect cases on a national scale. If your child was born with a birth injury that could have been related to maternal ingestion of an antidepressant (including Effexor), call us today. We may be able to help you file an Effexor Omphalocele Lawsuit. All birth defect cases are taken on a contingency fee basis; you will not be billed any legal fees unless a successful recovery is obtained.