Bond & Taylor Issues Product Advisory that SSRI Antidepressant Use During Pregnancy Could Cause Birth Defects

Irvine, CA (Law Firm Newswire) November 1, 2012 – The law firm of Bond & Taylor is advising pregnant women today that taking antidepressant SSRI medications has been strongly associated with birth defects. Pregnant women taking SSRI antidepressant medications are strongly encouraged to talk to their doctor about the risks for birth defects associated with taking this medication while pregnant. SSRI antidepressants are numerous, and include the following brand names: Paxil®, Prozac®, Zoloft®, Celexa®, Lexapro®, Luvox®, and Viibryd®. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), expectant mothers are 1 to 2 times more at risk for delivering a child with birth defects based on SSRI antidepressant consumption.

Numerous recent studies establish a clear link between birth defects such as abnormal physical and mental development and SSRI antidepressant use during pregnancy. In each study, expectant mothers who took their SSRI antidepressant medication as prescribed placed their unborn child at significant risk. According to a study conducted by the National Institute of Health, between 20% and 30% of newborns exposed to SSRI’s have disorders such as agitation, abnormal muscle tone and suction, seizures and hyponatraemia characterized by abnormal mental development. According to these results, 1 in 5 babies could potentially have seizures and abnormal mental disorders. A recent New England Journal of Medicine study also cites SSRI’s as a cause of significant risk of a fatal heart and lung condition called persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN). And the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology reports a 3 times greater risk for heart defects in babies born to mothers taking SSRI’s while pregnant. Unfortunately, these results are not isolated and have been repeated over the years in multiple countries.

Mothers may not have had all of the available information about their prescription SSRI antidepressant medication. According to a recent Annals of Internal Medicine study, 50% of women taking prescription drugs during pregnancy were unaware that these drugs could cause birth defects because they had not been warned of the side effects. Across the United States, families who have suffered birth defects as a result of prescription SSRI antidepressant use have begun to explore their legal options. The law firm of Bond & Taylor would like to remind these families that they are available for a free consultation to discuss opportunities for compensation. But the window of opportunity to file a birth defect case is narrow. Clients who are concerned should contact Bond & Taylor today.

About the Law Firm of Bond & Taylor
The law firm of Bond & Taylor has over 30 years of experience fighting zealously on behalf of injured clients and grieving family members who have lost a loved one due to negligence. The firm prides itself on being experts at fighting to achieve the fairness and justice clients deserve. Attorneys at Bond & Taylor are passionate advocates for their clients who seek to treat clients with the compassion and respect they deserve. The attorneys at Bond & Taylor understand clients and their families are suffering and want to fight for the compensation that clients deserve. Cases are accepted nationwide; call the firm of Bond & Taylor for a free confidential consultation at (800) 471-0314.

Bond & Taylor
Phone: (800) 471-0314
http://www.bondtaylorlaw.com/