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Practice Areas | SSRIs®
A recently published study that appeared in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine indicates that the use of certain anti-depressant medications during the latter half of pregnancy may increase the risk that the newborn will develop a serious respiratory disorder known as Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension (PPHN). The anti-depressant drugs – known as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) include the following:
- Prozac® (fluoxetine)
- Paxil® (paroxetine)
- Zoloft® (sertraline)
- Wellbutrin® (bupropion)
- Celexa® (citalopram)
- Cipralex® (escitalopram)
- Luvox® (fluvoxamine)
- Remeron® (mirtazapine)
- Effexor® (venlafaxine)
 Data from this study indicate that the use of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) such as Prozac®, Zoloft® and Paxil® during the second half of pregnancy may increase the risk of Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension (PPHN) by as much as six times the normal risk. Historically, Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension (PPHN) occurs in 1-2 infants per 1,000 live births. However, data from this study suggest that when Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) such as Prozac®, Zoloft® and Paxil® are used by a woman during the second half of her pregnancy, the rate of Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension (PPHN) increases to 5-6 cases per 1,000 live births.
Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension (PPHN) is a serious pulmonary (respiratory) disorder that can develop in newborn babies and impairs the ability to supply oxygen-rich blood to the body. When a newborn suffers from Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension (PPHN), the pulmonary arteries (blood vessels in the lungs) fail to fully open, i.e. these arteries remain constricted. Because of this, the newborn is unable to oxygenate his/her blood. As a result, the infant cannot provide an adequate supply of oxygen-rich blood to his/her tissues and organs. Without an adequate supply of oxygen-rich blood, the infant can suffer serious complications.
If you or someone you know was taking Prozac®, Paxil®, Zoloft® or another anti-depressant and gave birth to a baby who suffered from respiratory distress or a respiratory disorder, please click HERE to find out more about your or her legal rights.
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