Lexapro (escitalopram) is a medication used to treat depression and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). It belongs to a group of antidepressants known as SSRIs, which are the most commonly used antidepressants during pregnancy. Unfortunately, these medications may be linked to a variety of severe, life-threatening birth defects. If you took Lexapro during pregnancy and your baby was born with a birth defect, you may have a Lexapro lawsuit.

What You Can Do & How a Lexapro Lawsuit Can Help

The Schmidt Firm, LLP is currently accepting Lexapro birth defect cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has had a child with a birth defect caused by this medication, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free Lexapro lawsuit consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Lexapro Litigation Group or call us toll-free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.

Lexapro Overview

Lexapro (escitalopram) is a medication primarily used to treat depression and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). It belongs to a group of antidepressants known as SSRIs, or “Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors.” These medications treat mood disorders by increasing the levels of serotonin in the brain.

Lexapro was developed by Forest Laboratories and Lundbeck. Lundbeck had previously developed citalopram, which was sold under the brand-name Celexa. It took only a few years for them to develop escitalopram, a medication with similar pharmacology. Just as the patent on Celexa was set to expire, the drug companies launched Lexapro.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Lexapro for the treatment of depression in August 2002, and for the treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder in December 2003.

What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)? GAD is a mood disorder characterized by excessive worry and tension that disrupts daily life and lasts for at least six months. People who suffer from this condition may suffer uncontrollable worry about everyday things, such as money, death, family problems, or work difficulties. 65% of people who suffer from GAD also have another disorder, most often depression, panic disorder, and agoraphobia.

Approximately 30% of women experience some type of anxiety disorder during their lifetime. There is evidence that anxiety disorders can affect pregnancy outcomes, with some studies suggesting that panic attacks during pregnancy can cause placental abruption, fetal distress, decreased nutrition, and use of potentially harmful substances for self-medication.

Depression and Pregnancy

Do not start or stop taking any medication without first consulting a physician. Depression is a serious illness, and suddenly stopping Lexapro may have adverse effects on you and your unborn baby.

Pregnancy is a time of great emotional change for women, and they often suffer increased stress and anxiety. Women undergo a massive hormonal change, which can exacerbate underlying emotional issues. A pregnant woman may be excessively concerned over the health of her child, the lifestyle change that will occur when the child is born, her ability to be a good mother, finances, and more.

Despite the extensive use of antidepressant medications during pregnancy, information about the effect of these medications on an unborn baby is inconclusive. Several studies have found links between antidepressants and birth defects, while others have found no link. The issue of taking antidepressant drugs during pregnancy is far from resolved. However, there is definite evidence that a woman with depression who stops taking the medication during pregnancy has a high chance of relapsing into depression. The effects of untreated depression during pregnancy can adversely impact an unborn fetus — for example, if the woman stops taking care of herself, or if she turns to other substances for self-medication. When a woman is deciding whether to take an antidepressant during pregnancy, most doctors will counsel her to evaluate whether the risk of untreated depression versus the risk of birth defects is greater for an unborn baby.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most commonly-prescribed antidepressant medications, and the most commonly used during pregnancy. A study of pregnant women between 1998 and 2005 found that 4.5% of mothers reported taking an antidepressant at some time during pregnancy. Of these, 3.8% reported using an SSRI antidepressant.

Scientific Studies of SSRIs and Birth Defects

A number of studies have identified risks to an unborn baby associated with antidepressant medications. Some scientific information regarding the link between SSRIs and birth defects:

• Use of Selective-Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors in Pregnancy and the Risk of Birth Defects, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, found a link between SSRIs and anencephaly, craniosynostosis, or omphalocele.
• FDA Drug Safety Communication: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant use during pregnancy and reports of Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN), a rare heart and lung condition.
• FDA Safety Advisory regarding the link between the SSRI Paxil (paroxetine) and heart defects. Women taking an SSRI during the first three months of pregnancy were 1.5 to 2 times more likely to have a baby with a heart defect.

Lexapro and Birth Defects

Lexapro has been linked to a variety of birth defects. The Lexapro lawyers at The Schmidt Firm, LLP are currently accepting birth defect cases in all 50 states. Contact us if your baby was born with any of the following defects:

• Heart Defects
• Cranial Defects
• Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN)
• Abdominal Defects
• Neural Tube Birth Defects
• Ebstein’s Anomaly
• Clubfoot
• Spina Bifida
• Esophageal Stenosis
• Gastroschisis
• Tetralogy of Fallot
• Coarctation of the Aorta
• Truncus Arteriosus
• Pulmonary Valve Stenosis
• Atrial Septal Defects
• Ventricular Septal Defects
• Anal Atresia
• Patent Ductus Arteriosus
• Mitral Valve Defects
• Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome
• Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome
• Aortic Stenosis
• Heart Murmur
• Tricuspid Atresia
• Transposition of the Great Vessels
• Pulmonary Atresia
• Heart Valve Problems
• Down Syndrome
• Anencephaly
• Hypospadias
• Tricuspid Valve Stenosis
• Dandy-Walker Syndrome
• Hydronephrosis
• Encephalocele
• Undescended Testicles
• Craniosynostosis
• Esophageal Atresia
• Cloacal Exstrophy
• Hydranencephaly
• Cleft Lip
• Cleft Palate
• Growth Retardation
• Iniencephaly
• Diaphragmatic Hernia

Do I have a Lexapro Lawsuit?

The Schmidt Firm, LLP is currently accepting Lexapro induced birth defect cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know had a baby with a birth defect after taking Lexapro, you should contact our Lexapro lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Lexapro Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.

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