Callahan, Smithkline Beecham, Paxil & Birth Defects

This entry was posted in Birth Defect Case Watch℠ and tagged aortic valve stenosis bicuspid aortic valve birth defect glaxosmithkline kentucky patent ductus arteriosis paxil pregnant severe coarctation of the aorta smithkline beecham on by (updated 2924 days ago)

Callahan, Smithkline Beecham, Paxil & Birth Defects: A recent case in the United States District Court, E.D. Pennsylvania recently ruled on a motion to transfer.

Callahan, Smithkline Beecham, Paxil & Birth Defects case documents what many paxil prescription drug users may be experiencing today – potential birth defects in their child from the use of paxil (e.g., for depression) during pregnancy. The court ruled in favor of the Plaintiffs in the case.

To find out more on the case, see Case No. 14-791 – April 10, 2014.

  1. A brief summary of the facts include:Plaintiff was born in Kentucky on January 29, 1995.
  2. Plaintiff’s mother ingested Paxil during her pregnancy.
  3. Plaintiff was born with severe coarctation of the aorta, patent ductus arteriosis, bicuspid aortic valve, and aortic valve stenosis.
  4. Plaintiff resides in Booneville, Kentucky and claims damages as a result of her mother’s ingestion of Paxil during her gestation. 
  5. Defendant seeks to transfer venue to the Eastern District of Kentucky since all critical events at issue in the case occurred in Kentucky, and because Kentucky is home to a significant number of witnesses and documents necessary to litigate the case.

PAXIL

Since September 2005, scientific evidence has revealed that SSRI antidepressants, such as Paxil, Zoloft (sertraline), Prozac (fluoxetine), and Lexapro (escitalopram), may cause birth defects in children whose mothers took these or other SSRI antidepressants during pregnancy. The same has been shown for SNRI (serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor) antidepressants like Effexor (venlafaxine).

Studies have linked the use of SSRI/SSRIs like Paxil and Zoloft during pregnancy with an increased risk of birth defects like heart congenital defects (cardiac birth defects in babies, risk birth injury defects) – heart valve defects, atrial (ASD) and ventricular septal defects (VSD) (holes in the walls of the chambers of the heart) – in newborns when Paxil or Zoloft is taken during the pregnancy (possibly the first first three months of pregnancy) and persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN), a life-threatening respiratory condition that affects a baby’s ability to breathe after birth.

CASE EVALUATION

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At the Gooch Law Firm, we pride ourselves on providing our clients reliable representation for even the most challenging cases.

If you have a child that has a birth injury or birth defect (e.g., PPHN, heart or lung defect) that you believe may have been caused by a defective drug, e.g., paxil – and need help filing a paxil lawsuit, contact our office at 1.844.329.5955.

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