Often in life, people are faced with difficult choices such as mothers who have to take medications during their pregnancy. Pregnant women are prone to depression and if untreated could pose danger to both her and the baby she is carrying in her womb. However, some antidepressants are making life complicated for mothers because of the new set of side effects that these drugs have been identified with by studies. This is not the first time that Paxil has gotten into trouble as in 2010, Glaxo had settled Paxil claims for over $2 billion.
The most widely prescribed antidepressants belong to a class of medication known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as Paxil or Paroxetine. Since its approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1993, Paxil has become one of the mostly prescribed antidepressant. However, of late, a New England Journal of Medicine study found that women who took SSRIs during their third trimester were six times more likely to deliver babies born with persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN) than those who didn't take SSRIs during their third trimester.
A study from Sweden found that birth defects were twice as common among Paxil users as among women taking other antidepressants or none at all. Prior to advance treatments, approximately 50 percent of babies diagnosed with PPHN died, however, with the advancement of medicine, this number have been lowered to less than 20 percent. Another 20 percent have long-term physical and developmental difficulties due to the condition. Even after treatment, the baby can be susceptible to heart failure, brain hemorrhage, seizures, kidney failure, or organ damage - sometimes the condition is even fatal. Babies who survive PPHN sometimes have long-term breathing difficulties, seizures, developmental disorders and hearing loss.
The exact cause of PPHN is unknown in many cases; however, based on the study, when a newborn’s mother is taking SSRIs during her third trimester, that is more likely the cause. No mother in her right mind would allow her child to suffer and if given a chance would avoid causing discomfort to her baby at all cost even at the detriment of her own health. This is why if they had known beforehand of the Paxil birth defects, they would have been given a choice to either take it for their health’s sake or not take it for their baby’s sake.
GlaxoSmithKline, the maker of Paxil, is currently facing many Paxil lawsuits allegedly for not giving out an early warning on its potential to increase the risk of birth defects. The FDA had elevated the drug into its second-highest category for risk of birth defects, advising patients that this drug should usually not be taken during pregnancy.
