Effexor Birth Defects
Effexor, also known as Venlafaxine, is one of several antidepressant prescription medications that have been the subject of recent personal injury litigation. Effexor birth defect lawsuits have been filed on the basis that Effexor and similar antidepressants, have been linked to an increased risk of a variety of serious birth defects when taken by the mother during any part of the pregnancy. Effexor is an SNRI (Selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor) used in the treatment of both depressive and anxiety disorders and has only been available for use since 1994. Other popular antidepressant medicines also believed to be linked to similar birth defects include: Prozac, Lexapro, Paxil, Zoloft and Celexa.
Types of Effexor Birth Defects
When taken during pregnancy, Effexor can result in an increased risk of many serious birth defects. Most of these corresponding birth defects require hospitalization, surgeries, as well a lifetime of monitoring and specialized medical care. For this reason, the companies producing and distributing Effexor and similar medications should be held responsible for the physical, emotional, and financial damages in which these products can result. A few of the most common Effexor Birth Defects include:
- Congenital Heart Defects: Atrial Septal Defect, Ventricular Septal Defect, Coarctation of the Aorta, Tetralogy of Fallot, Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, Aortic Valve Stenosis, Pulmonary Valve Stenosis, Ebstein’s Anomaly, Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension, Transposition of Great Arteries
- Neural Tube Defects: Spina Bifida
- Autism Spectrum Disorders
- Club Foot/Bilateral Club Feet
- Abdominal Stomach Wall Defects: Omphalocele
- Upper and Lower Limb Reductions
- Cranial Skull Defects: Craniosynotosis
Effexor Clinical Studies
In August of 2011, the National Birth Defects Prevention Study (NBDPS) performed a research project with the intent of determining whether or not the use of Effexor (Venlafaxine) during pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of birth defects. The data that the NBDPS collected suggested that there is an association between prenatal use of Effexor (as ingested maternally during pregnancy) and some birth defects, including several of the ones listed above. The results of this study ought to be particularly dependable because of the large sample size, and all information on infants with congenital heart defects was evaluated by doctors with expertise in cardiology, specifically pediatric cardiology. Several other antidepressant birth defect studies performed over the last several years have had similar findings.
Talk to an Effexor Lawyer Today
If you or a loved one was prescribed Effexor or any other antidepressant medication during any or all of a pregnancy and had a child born with a serious birth defect, you may be a viable candidate for an Effexor Lawsuit. Please contact the Willis Law Firm today for the opportunity to have your case reviewed by a team of talented and compassionate legal professionals who are more than qualified to assist you. Find out if you are legally entitled to reimbursement. Effexor lawsuits are handled on a contingency fee basis, which means that you will not be charged legal/attorney fees unless a recovery is made. Although we are located in Houston, we are currently accepting Effexor antidepressant birth defect cases nationwide.
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