Paxil Brain Defects

Paxil Use During Pregnancy Could Cause Brain Defects in an Infant

Paxil was designed in the early 1990s to treat depression, anxiety and related illnesses, but its use by pregnant women has been linked to birth defects, including some that can affect an infant’s brain development. This can cause numerous disorders, diseases, problems, and neurological deficits.

Types of Paxil Brain Defects

These brain defects range from malformations such as macrocephaly, which is an enlargement of the brain, to withdrawal symptoms known as “neonatal abstinence syndrome,” which can cause “brain zaps,” nausea and instability just as it does in adults. On top of that is the possibility for an infant to be born with anencephaly or craniosynotosis. The risk is great enough that the Mayo Clinic recommends pregnant women avoid Paxil (or its generic form, paroxetine).

Anencephaly occurs when a baby is born without a forebrain, the portion of the brain associated with thinking and higher-level thinking in general. This is technically a neural tube defect: Parts of said tube fail to close, which leaves the baby not only missing the forebrain but without parts of the skull or scalp. It is a horrific condition that infants rarely survive.

Craniosynotosis occurs when the skull fuses together prematurely during fetal development. This changes the growth pattern of the fetus’s skull, which has an effect on the development of the brain. When the baby is born, the head is noticeably deformed. What comes with this is the potential for the infant to have impaired vision and a reduced IQ.

Generic Names for Paxil

Also known by its other trade names Aropax, Seroxat, Paxil CR and Sereupin, Paxil is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class of antidepressant that GlaxoSmithKline introduced to the market in 1992. Doctors typically prescribe it to treat depression, anxiety and related illnesses. It comes in two forms: 10 to 50mg oral tablets and in an oral suspension containing 10mg paroxetine per 5mL. In 2006, doctors filled out almost 20 million Paxil prescriptions.

Speak to a Lawyer Now

The process of demanding compensation for the harm you’ve suffered can be complicated, even if it doesn’t seem fair that you should have to go through even more trouble to be made whole again. The Paxil lawyers at the Rottenstein Law Group believe that getting satisfaction from the company that harmed you shouldn’t be just more hardship. That’s why we do everything we can to streamline the process, and we will file a Paxil lawsuit on your behalf if necessary. If you have taken Paxil and experienced adverse side effects, please fill out our contact form or call 1-877-487-0990.