Parents Scott and Leigh Remsburg filed a lawsuit on October 19, 2012, against the makers of Paxil, claiming that the antidepressant drug caused their daughter to be born with birth defects that ultimately caused her death. In the complaint, the couple indicates that their daughter was born in February 2005 with cardiac malformations allegedly resulting from Leigh Remsburg’s use of Paxil and Zoloft antidepressants during pregnancy. The baby died a few days after birth from a combination of medical difficulties, including congestive heart failure and atrial and ventricular septal defects. If you took the antidepressant Paxil while pregnant and your child has since suffered a serious birth defect, contact our reputable attorneys at AMA Law today. Our team of knowledgeable lawyers has experience litigating drug injury cases, and can help you pursue the financial compensation your child deserves for his or her birth defects.
BIRTH DEFECTS POTENTIALLY LINKED TO PAXIL
Paxil, also known as generic paroxetine, is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline and first entered the U.S. market in 1992 as a treatment for major depressive disorder. Since that time, Paxil has been additionally indicated for a number of other conditions, including obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and social anxiety disorder. Paxil belongs to a class of antidepressants called SSRIs, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, which represent some of the most widely-prescribed prescription drugs in the United States. Unfortunately, the safety of Paxil, especially when used in pregnancy, has been questioned in recent years, as extensive research has examined the potential link between SSRI antidepressants like Paxil and severe, potentially life-threatening birth defects in babies exposed to the medications in utero.
CONTACT OUR ATTORNEYS FOR QUALIFIED LEGAL HELP
In January 2012, the British Medical Journal published a study in which researchers established a potential link between Paxil and other SSRIs and a birth defect called persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) in babies. Another study published in July 2012 in the Archives of General Psychiatry revealed that exposure to SSRI drugs in pregnancy can lead to an increased risk of reduced head size and preterm birth. Other congenital malformations potentially associated with Paxil use in pregnancy include cleft lip, cleft palate, neural tube defects, limb defects and severe defects in the development of the skull. If your child has experienced a serious birth defect, which you believe to be connected to the use of Paxil, contact our qualified attorneys at AMA Law to discuss your options for legal recourse. You may have grounds to file a lawsuit against GlaxoSmithKline, in order to pursue financial compensation for your child’s injuries, current and future medical care, and any other damages related to the birth defect.