Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been linked to serious congenital heart defects in the newborn children. It occurs in women who take these prescription drugs while pregnant. Popular antidepressants like Zoloft, Paxil, Prozac and Celexa have been associated with heart defects. These range from heart murmurs to serious cardiovascular complications that require surgery.
Some studies show using SSRIs during pregnancy can triple the risk of your child developing a heart defect. You and your doctor may not have been warned. That’s why the passionate attorneys of the Michael Brady Lynch Firm are here to fight for you and seek you the compensation you deserve.
If your child was born with a heart defect as a result of you taking an SSRI, know that you’re not alone. Here are some of the heart defects that may be linked to SSRIs:
This is when there is a hole in the wall that separates the two upper chambers of the heart. This defect is present at birth. It’s possible for some smaller holes to close on their own, but larger holes can persist and damage the heart and lungs.
These are defects of the heart or blood vessels, primarily arteries such as the aorta.
Double Outlet of the Right Ventricle (DORV)
This a defect present at birth in which both of the great arteries connect at the right ventricle, a chamber of the heart. In DORV, both of the body’s great arteries – the pulmonary artery and the aorta – arise from the left ventricle.
Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome
This is a rare defect where the left side of the heart is completely undeveloped, causing the right side of the heart to work harder.
Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension (PPHN)
In this condition, a baby’s circulatory system fails to transition from how it operated in the uterus to how it needs to perform after birth.
Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Obstruction (Pulmonary Artesia)
This represents a variety of disorders involving a blockage or obstruction in the right ventricular outflow tract.
This occurs when four related defects are all present: ventricular septal defect (VSD); pulmonary stenosis; overriding aorta; and right ventricular hypertrophy. Blood will typically flow from the left ventricle through a hole in the wall that separates the left ventricle from the right.
Transposition of Great Arteries
This rare defect results in a reversal of the two main arteries, the pulmonary artery and the aorta.
This is when there is a hole in the wall separating the upper chambers of the heart.
This is when the aorta is narrowed, causing the baby’s body to work hard to pump blood.
Get Help
If your child suffers from any of these heart defects and you took an SSRI when pregnant, you may be entitled to a compensation. While it cannot take the pain away from you or your baby, it can help get life back to as normal as it can be.
You need to speak with the experienced attorneys at the Michael Brady Lynch Firm can secure you the highest possible settlement allowable by law. Contact us at (877) 513-9517 or contact us online.