Antidepressant medication is quite common in the United States. More than 11 percent of Americans take some form of antidepressant medication according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC). The CDC funded a study about a possible link between antidepressants like Lexapro® and birth defects. The New England Journal of Medicine published the study that indicated Lexapro® may cause serious birth defects including cardiac birth defects or congenital birth defects. One of the more serious possible Lexapro® birth defects is persistent pulmonary hypertension or PPHN.
Lexapro (Escitalopram) is one of the antidepressants linked to birth defects by the study. But, there are other similar antidepressants in that have been linked to birth defects: Celexa, Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, and Luvox. They go by the generic names Citalopram, Fluoxetine, Fluvoxamine, Paroxetine, Sertraline, and Vilazodone.
The list of possible birth defects that could be increased by taking Lexapro® while pregnant is numerous. Anencephaly is a birth defect that affects the tissue that grows into the spinal cord and brain. In another study, the New England Journal of Medicine indicates that antidepressants like Lexapro® may increase risk factors for anencephaly by more than 200 percent. Taking an antidepressant while pregnant may double the chances of abdominal birth defects. One of these possible abdominal birth defects is omphalocele, where the intestine remains outside the body at birth.
The list of possible Lexapro® and other SSRI antidepressants birth defects is long, but here are most of them:
- Anencephaly (open cranium with absence of a brain)
- Craniosynostosis (premature fusion of the skull bones)
- Hypospadias (opening of the urethra is on the underside rather than the end)
- Esophageal atresia (closed esophagus)
- Esophageal Stenosis
- Gastroschisis – abdominal wall defect
- Pulmonary Stenosis
- Omphalocele (protrusion of part of the intestine through the abdominal wall)
- Cloacal Exstrophy (involves multiple abnormalities of the gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts)
- Limb Reduction
- Congenital heart lesions & anomalies
- Undescended testes in males
- Pulmonary Atresia
- Aortic Stenosis
- Tricuspid Atresia
- Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome (HRHS)
- Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS)
- Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF)
- Ventral or Ventricular Septal Defects (VSD) – hole in the heart wall
- Atrial Septal Defects (ASD) – also known as ‘hole in the heart’ defects
- Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN)
- Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS)
- Omphalocele (abdominal wall defects)
- Clubfoot (one or both feet turn downward and inward)
- Anal atresia (complete or partial closure of the anus)
- Septal defects; Cleft lip and cleft palate
- Limb Defects
If your child has a birth defect, it’s not your fault. But it could be the result of taking a medication while you were pregnant. If you believe your child’s birth defect may have been caused by a medication you were taking, call Longo Legal, PLLC and let’s talk about your legal options. The toll free number is 855-566-4648. Our team of experienced Lexapro® lawyers may be able to help you. You will be treated with compassion and respect. We will do everything we can to help you protect your family’s future by fighting for substantial financial compensation for your Lexapro® injury claim. There is absolutely no obligation or cost for the consultation.
