In June 2008, N. Boucher and a team of researchers from Laval University (Quebec) published the results of a study titled “A new look at the neonate’s clinical presentation after in utero exposure to antidepressants in late pregnancy.” in the ever-prominent Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology, providing further insight into the risks of SSRI use in pregnancy. In the last two decades, dozens of studies have demonstrated that gestational exposure to these antidepressants is linked to heart defects, craniofacial defects, neonatal withdrawal syndrome, and brain defects.
Here, objectives were to “To identify symptoms in neonates exposed to antidepressants in late pregnancy and to propose a categorization of these symptoms to help clinical assessment of antidepressant effects in exposed neonates.” Admittedly, this was a relatively small study, reviewing only 73 exposed and 73 non-exposed infants.
After statistical analysis, the team found that “Increased risk of alertness alteration (odds ratio [OR], 37;95% confidence interval [CI], 8-174), altered muscular tone (OR,20; 95% CI, 5-71), feeding and GI problems (OR, 3.8; 95% CI, 1.7-8.1), tachypnea (OR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.1-5.3), and neurological problems (8/73 vs 0/73; P = 0.006) were found.”
This means that children exposed to antidepressants in pregnancy were about 4 times as likely to have alertness alteration, altered muscular tone, and feeding problems. Babies born to mothers who used antidepressants were 2.5 times as likely to have tachypnea (rapid breathing).
The team continues, “Three statistically significant clusters of symptoms associated with antidepressant exposures emerged from the factorial analysis. Two of these clusters were similar to those described in adults for serotonergic toxicity and antidepressant discontinuation syndrome while the other was closely related to neonatal immaturity.”
Due to the fact that thousands of women who used SSRIs in pregnancy were uninformed of the risks posed to developing children, SSRI birth defect lawsuits against SSRI manufacturers for failure to warn.
If you or a loved one used SSRIs while pregnant and gave birth to a child with a birth defect or who had perinatal complications, your family may be entitled to significant financial compensation. For a free, no-obligation case consultation, contact our team of SSRI birth defect lawyers at the information provided below. We have the compassion, resources, and experience required to win the justice you deserve. Call today and see how we can help.
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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.