Today, while reading through PubMed, an amazing database of medical literature provided by the United States National Library of Medicine and The National Institutes of Health, I found an article dating back to 2003 titled “Follow-up of children of depressed mothers exposed or not exposed to antidepressant drugs during pregnancy.” originally appearing in The Journal of Pediatrics.  There, a team of researchers from Stanford University School of Medicine led by R.C. Casper reviewed the effects of prenatal exposure to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor drugs (SSRIs) like Paxil, Prozac. Zoloft, and others.

This was a small study but was designed well: it compared birth outcomes for children born to mothers who used SSRIs in pregnancy to children whose mothers were depressed but elected not to use SSRIs in pregnancy.  Many other studies compare birth outcomes for children with prenatal SSRI exposure to children whose mothers neither had psychiatric illness (who, of course used no SSRI drugs).

“Children whose mothers were diagnosed with major depressive disorder in pregnancy and elected not to take medication (n = 13) were compared with children of depressed mothers treated with SSRIs (n = 31) on birth outcomes and postnatal neurodevelopmental functioning between ages 6 and 40 months.”

Results showed that “Children exposed to SSRIs during pregnancy had lower APGAR scores and scored lower on the Bayley psychomotor development indexes and the motor quality factor of the Bayley Behavioral Rating Scale than unexposed children.”

Since so many women have used SSRIs in pregnancy unaware of the risk for negative birth outcomes and SSRI birth defects, SSRI birth defect lawsuits have been filed in great number over the last few years.

If you or a loved one used SSRIs and gave birth to a child with a congenital malformation or who had perinatal complications, 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.

(855) 452 – 5529

justinian@dangerousdrugs.us

Our SSRI Birth Defects Lawsuit Information page is a great place to start if you have any questions about SSRIs and Birth Defects.