Research shows that babies born to mothers who took certain antidepressants, such as Celexa, during pregnancy are more likely to develop serious and life-threatening birth defects.
About Celexa
Celexa (generic: citalopram) belongs to the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) drug class and was approved in 1999 to treat major depression. SSRI antidepressants like Celexa have been linked to many serious and life-threatening congenital defects, such as:
- Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN) – 6 times increased risk
- Anencephaly (fatal neural tube defect) – 2.5 times increased risk
- Clubfoot – 5 times increased risk
- Craniosynostosis (craniofacial defect) – 2.5 times increased risk
- Omphalocele (abdominal wall defect) – nearly tripled risk
- Gastroschisis (abdominal wall defect) – 30 percent increased risk
- Pulmonary Atresia – 3 times increased risk
- Spina Bifida – 60 percent increased risk
- Diaphragmatic Hernia – 80 percent increased risk
- Esophageal Atresia – 30 percent increased risk
- Heart Defects – nearly doubled risk
- Atrial Septal Defect
- Double Outlet of the Right Ventricle
- Hypoplastic Left/Right Heart Syndromes
- Tetralogy of Fallot
- Transposition of the Great Arteries
- Ventricular Septal Defect
Extensive Research Links Anti-Depressants to Defects
Two studies published in the June 2007 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine and two studies published in The British Medical Journal have linked the antidepressants to increased risks of babies developing congenital defects, including those listed above.
Celexa Manufacturer Embroiled in Lawsuits
Manufacturer Forest Laboratories is involved in lawsuits regarding claims of suicidal tendencies linked to Celexa. The company also been investigated by the Department of Justice for off-label and illegal promotion of Celexa to children. There are also currently lawsuits filed against SSRI anti-depressant manufacturers for alleged birth defects, and more suits are expected to be filed.
Your Baby’s Rights
If your baby was born with a congenital defect that may have been caused by exposure to Celexa or another anti-depressant before birth, your family deserves financial compensation. No amount of money will change what happened to your baby,. Compensation will help offset the current and future medical costs, as well as provide for the pain and suffering you and your baby have experienced.
Filing a claim will also teach the manufacturers of unsafe medications that it is unacceptable to not warn parents of the risks associated with these drugs, including serious birth defects. Your suit may even prevent other families from suffering as yours has, by forcing the pharmaceutical company to change their drug’s label to warn parents of the potential risks.
Contact Us
You may be eligible for compensation to ease the financial burdens associated with your baby’s injury. Contact us today to set up a free consultation, during which we will listen to your story, answer any questions you may have and discuss your legal rights and options. If you choose us to represent you, we will work with you on a contingency fee basis; this means you pay nothing until we have secured compensation for you, either through a jury verdict or settlement.
