Birth Defects: A Lifelong Struggle

Birth Defects: A Lifelong Struggle (February 4, 2011) A birth defect is an abnormality in body structure, function and metabolism present at birth and deemed to be a lifelong struggle for many victims around the world. In the U.s.a, approximately 150,000 infants were born with congenital defects ranging from minor to severe, treatable and non-curable. In addition, it was also deemed to be the most common cause of death in the very first year of life. Among the most common birth defects are cleft lip or palate, Down syndrome, congenital heart disease, spina bifida and cystic fibrosis. Researchers said that it was commonly caused by genetic, environmental or unknown factors. However, in most cases, it was a result of prescription drugs taken during the first trimester of the mother’s pregnancy. Previous studies explained that Paxil, an antidepressant drug produced by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), has caused several incidents of birth defects involving infants born to mothers who took Paxil during their pregnancy period. Paxil, is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor used to treat a variety of conditions, including depression and other mental or mood disorders. Moreover, these medications were also used to prevent suicidal ideas or attempts and provide important benefits to the patient. However, recent studies showed that pregnant women who took Paxil, in the first three months of pregnancy were 1.5 to two times likely to give birth to a child with birth defects compared with pregnant women who took other antidepressant drugs or pregnant women overall. As a result, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) placed the drug into its second-highest category for risk of birth defects , advising patients not to use the drug during pregnancy. Mothers who took Paxil during their pregnancy and gave birth to a baby with birth defects are encouraged to consult medical experts to evaluate their conditions and then get in touch with a Paxil attorney who is willing to help them through the legal process. Additionally, those who are still using it and suffered an adverse effect are also encouraged to consult with an attorney specializing in these cases. As of July 2010, GSK reportedly settled around 800 Paxil birth defect lawsuits for approximately $1 billion and still have other pending Paxil lawsuits waiting to be settled.

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