In April, 2013, a team of researchers from the University of Bristol led by D. Rai published a study in British Medical Journal titled “Parental depression, maternal antidepressant use during pregnancy, and risk of autism spectrum disorders: population based case-control study.” that explored the link between maternal antidepressant use in pregnancy and increased risk for autism. To-date, a number of other studies have linked gestational exposure to SSRIs and increased risk for autism.
This population-based study identified “4429 cases of autism spectrum disorder (1828 with and 2601 without intellectual disability) and 43,277 age and sex matched controls in the full sample (1679 cases of autism spectrum disorder and 16,845 controls with data on maternal antidepressant use nested within a cohort (n=589,114) of young people aged 0-17 years.”
Results showed that “A history of maternal … but not paternal depression was associated with an increased risk of autism spectrum disorders in offspring. In the subsample with available data on drugs, this association was confined to women reporting antidepressant use during pregnancy (3.34, 1.50 to 7.47, P=0.003), irrespective of whether selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or non-selective monoamine reuptake inhibitors were reported.”
Therefore, the team concluded that “In utero exposure to both SSRIs and non-selective monoamine reuptake inhibitors (tricyclic antidepressants) was associated with an increased risk of autism spectrum disorders, particularly without intellectual disability.”
Because so many expecting mothers have used SSRI drugs like Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Effexor, Celexa, and others during pregnancy unaware of the increased risk for autism, adverse birth outcomes, and serious birth defects, a number of SSRI birth defects lawsuits have been filed in recent years. If you or a loved one used SSRIs and gave birth to a child with autism, a congenital malformation, or who had an adverse birth outcome, you 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 experience, resources, and skills 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.