For years, doctors, medical professionals, and patients have recognized that first trimester fetal exposure to antidepressants elevates the risk of birth defects. However, many consumers don’t realize that these antidepressants, known collectively as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), pose dangers in the last stages of pregnancy, too.
For instance, a medical study found in 2006 that pregnant women who take Lexapro (escitalopram), one type of SSRI, during the last half of pregnancy were six times more likely to give birth to a child suffering from persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN). The effects of PPHN can be severe, including damage to body tissue, shock, heart failure, brain damage, kidney failure, and even death.
Are you concerned that your child’s fetal exposure to an SSRI like Lexapro might have contributed to the medical conditions he or she suffered after birth? If the answer is yes, you should be aware that your family’s situation might not only deserve a medical analysis, but a legal one as well. With years of experience in this complex area of law, the professionals at Fears Nachawati are prepared to offer the advice you need. For your free consultation, call us at 1.866.545.8364 or email mn@fnlawfirm.com.