Celexa had been hailed as an advance in the fight against depression. However, patients who have taken the drug have reported serious side effects. Not only has Celexa been connected with suicidal thoughts, but it is also alleged to cause birth defects when pregnant women take this drug.
Celexa is made by Forest Laboratories. It is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) that works by preventing the reabsorption of serotonin into the body. This raises serotonin levels, increasing the body’s ability to regulate emotions. Serotonin is a key part of the fight against depression and anxiety.
Birth Defects Connected to Celexa
While Celexa has helped many patients, all has not been positive. There have been numerous side effects reported from regular use of the drug. Children born to mothers who took the drug during pregnancy have been born with some of the following birth defects.
- Anencephaly – Part of the baby’s skull or brain is missing
- Craniosynostosis – The baby’s skull fuses too early, stunting the normal brain development
- Omphalocele – The baby’s intestines, liver, or other organs protrude from the belly button outside the body
- Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn – This can be a fatal condition where the baby struggles to breathe.
There have been concerns about SSRIs impacts on unborn children dating as far back as 2005. The FDA issued a limited warning about possible newborn heart defects tied to these drugs back in 2006, but has said nothing since then. In the meantime, pregnant women still take these drugs without any warning from the manufacturer about their possible complications.
Like other SSRI manufacturers, Forest is facing lawsuits for birth defects allegedly connected to Celexa. These companies have already settled other lawsuits that have alleged that SSRIs cause suicidal thoughts in children. Forest is no stranger to legal trouble connected to Celexa, having been fined $313 million by the FDA for illegal marketing back in 2011.
Drugmakers can be sued for defective products in Boca Raton that cause harm. Injured plaintiffs have filed suit alleging:
- Design defects
- Manufacturing defects
- Marketing defects such as a failure to warn of side effects
- Negligence
Possible Damages in a Celexa Lawsuit
Families who are able to prove that their children were born with defects associated with Celexa may be entitled to substantial financial compensation. This can include the following:
- Pain and suffering
- The costs of past, present, and future medical bills
- Emotional distress
- Lost wages when the parent must take time off from work to care for the baby
Product liability lawsuits like Celexa require an experienced attorney who is able to work with medical and scientific experts to prove that the drug is defective.
Florida Product Liability Attorneys Helping Families
Call a Florida product liability attorney with the firm of Ged Lawyers LLP at (561) 995-1966 or contact us online to schedule your free no-risk initial consultation. We fight for families who have suffered from the harmful effects that defective drugs may have on patients. Call today or contact us online to get started on the legal process.
