Paxil Gastroschisis Abdominal Hernia

Paxil Birth Defects – Gastroschisis

News about Paxil (paroxetine) birth defects continues to grow. Most of the time, though, outlets focus on Paxil heart defects such as right outflow tract defects and septal heart defects. There are others, and one particularly gruesome pair is gastroschisis (also called paraomphalocele) and omphalocele. Usually a genetic condition, gastroschisis is a congenital defect near a newborn’s umbilical cord that causes intestines or other organs to protrude outside of the abdominal cavity. It is often identified as a type of hernia.

Paxil Birth Defects – Omphalocele

Omphalocele is a similar condition in which the intestines, liver or other organs protrude due to a failure of the abdominal muscles to develop properly. The difference is that omphalocele is an umbilical cord defect while gastroschisis is not. Both conditions are difficult to detect before birth, but the prognosis for survival has increased in recent years. Surgeons can repair the damage by either pushing the intestines back into the body or by stitching a mesh around the protrusion.

Studies Link Paxil Use to Gastroschisis and Omphalocele

Two studies published in the June 28, 2007 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine draw the connection between early pregnancy Paxil use and gastroschisis and omphalocele. The first, conducted by Carol Louik and her colleagues using data from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study is titled, “First-Trimester Use of Selective Serotonin-Reuptake Inhibitors and the Risk of Birth Defects.” The second study, carried out by a group led by Sura Alwan, uses data from the Slone Epidemiology Center Birth Defects Study and is called, “Use of Selective Serotonin-Reuptake Inhibitors in Pregnancy and the Risk of Birth Defects.”

The Alwan article found a slight connection between SSRI use and gastroschisis with an odds ratio of 1.3, but SSRIs caused omphalocele at a rate of 2.8 times normal. The results from Louik’s study do not include any data on gastroschisis, but it found a milder impact of SSRIs on omphalocele (1.4 times normal).

Speak to a Lawyer Today

If your child was born with Paxil gastroschisis, or a Paxil abdominal hernia such as omphalocele and you took Paxil in the first 20 weeks of your pregnancy, you may be entitled to compensation from GlaxoSmithKline in a Paxil birth defects lawsuit. At this time, the Rottenstein Law Group is offering free, confidential legal consultations to parents or guardians of children born with these conditions under these circumstances. Please fill out our contact form or call 1-877-487-0990 and one of our Paxil attorneys will contact you as soon as possible.