Several studies have been conducted on the safety of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) taken to treat depression during pregnancy. Unfortunately, the data from studies examining the associations between SSRI use during pregnancy and congenital malformations are inconsistent.
Since the publishing of these inconsistent data regarding SSRI use and congenital malformation, many secondary studies have been conducted in an attempt to resolve the conflicting conclusions. One such study was conducted by Kornum et al. and published in the Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, is titled “Use of selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors during early pregnancy and risk of congenital malformations: updated analysis.” The authors stated that the researchers “examined associations between SSRI use during pregnancy and risk of congenital malformations in infants.”
The study was conducted in Northern Denmark, and included 216,042 women who had a live birth. The prevalence of malformation in infants born to women who had taken SSRIs during pregnancy was compared to malformation rates in women who took no medication.
The researchers report that 5.1% of babies born to women taking SSRIs displayed malformations, while 3.5% of babies born to women not taking medication displayed malformations. The authors state “SSRI use was associated with an increased risk of malformations overall (odds ratio [OR] = 1.3; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.1-1.6) and cardiac malformations (OR = 1.7; 95% CI: 1.1-2.5). Additionally, the authors singled out sertraline from all other SSRIs as being associated with an increased risk for septal defects.
The researchers concluded by stating that there wasn’t a significant overall association between use of SSRIs taken during pregnancy and congenital malformations. However, they went on to state that SSRI use could potentially cause cardiac malformations. In their conclusion, they state “our findings suggest an association between maternal SSRI use in early pregnancy and cardiac malformations which could be causal.”
Another report showing the danger of SSRI use during pregnancy, this paper can be used to help demonstrate to court that the manufacturers of SSRIs knew or should have known the risk for birth defects associated with their products. Because the warning labels for many of these medications have not been adequately informative or clear, a number of SSRI birth defects lawsuits have been filed around the world.
If you or a loved one used SSRIs during pregnancy and your child was born with a congenital malformation, you may be entitled to significant financial compensation for the injuries sustained by your family through no fault of your own.
For more information or a free, no-obligation case consultation, please do not hesitate to contact our team of SSRI birth defects lawyers at the information provided below. We have the skills, resources, and experience required to win the justice you and your loved ones deserve.
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Our SSRI Birth Defects Lawsuit Information page is a great place to start if you have any questions about SSRIs and Birth Defects. Call today and see how we can help!