Paxil and its Side Effects

Doctors prescribe Paxil (paroxetine) for the treatment of depression, panic disorder, various anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). It is in a class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) that increase levels of a natural brain substance called serotonin. Paxil has serious side effects, including suicidal thoughts and actions in children and adolescents, mania, high blood pressure and birth defects.

Heart Birth Defects

Studies revealed that women who became pregnant while on Paxil or took the drug during pregnancy doubled their risk of having a baby with malformations of the heart such as ventricular and atrial septal defects (VSDs and ASDs), which are holes in the walls of the chambers of the heart..

Lung Birth Defects

Babies exposed to Paxil in the last trimester of pregnancy have six times the risk for a Paxil birth defect called Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension (PPHN) of the newborn. In cases of PPHN, the arteries of the lungs remain narrowed or constricted. This condition inhibits the blood flow to the lungs and reduces the amount of oxygen that can get into the bloodstream. Without immediate oxygen therapy or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support, the baby can suffer oxygen deprivation leading to brain damage and potential death from this Paxil birth defect.

Abdominal Birth Defects

Researchers have found that women who take Paxil while pregnant have an increased chance of having a baby with omphalocele, a hernia in which the infant’s intestines or other abdominal organs protrude outside of the body through the navel.

Head and Spinal Birth Defects

Women taking Paxil during pregnancy can have a baby with a Paxil birth defect called Craniosynostosis. This is a deformation of the skull affecting the brain in which one or more fibrous joints between the bones of the skull, or cranial sutures, fuse prematurely before brain growth is complete. Another Paxil birth defect is Spina Bifida, a developmental neural tube defect affecting the spinal cord.

Leg and Foot Birth Defects

Cases of clubfoot in newborns, a deformation of the lower leg and foot causing the foot to turn inward or downward, are associated with Paxil usage during pregnancy.

Birth Complications

Paxil can cause premature birth and complications at the time of a baby’s birth, such as respiratory distress, cyanosis, apnea, seizures, temperature instability, feeding difficulty, vomiting, hypoglycemia, hypotonia, hypertonia, hyperreflexia, tremor, jitteriness, irritability and constant crying that may require prolonged hospitalization, respiratory support and tube feeding.

Do I have a Paxil Birth Defect Lawsuit?

If your child has been born with any of the birth defects or complications above, you need an experienced lawyer to determine if you have a Paxil birth defect lawsuit. The birth defects your child endured may be the result of GlaxoSmithKline’s failure to warn of the risks of taking Paxil while pregnant. The law firm of Napoli Bern Ripka LLP represents people nationwide what have suffered injury from Paxil. Fill out our contact form today for a free legal consultation with our lawyers to learn your legal rights.