Prozac (fluoxetine) is one of the most popular antidepressant medications in existence, used in the treatment of depression and other mood disorders. Unfortunately, it has been linked to birth defects in babies born to women who took Prozac during pregnancy. Severe, life-threatening birth defects include: heart defects, abdomina defects, cranial defects, physical abnormalities, Autism, Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN), and more.

What You Can Do & How a Prozac Lawsuit Can Help

The Schmidt Firm, LLP is currently accepting Prozac 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 Prozac Lawsuit consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Prozac Litigation Group or call us toll-free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.

What is Prozac?

Prozac (fluoxetine) is a medication that is used to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, some eating disorders, and panic attacks. It also has many off-label uses, including the treatment of alcoholism.

Prozac belongs to a class of medications known as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs). It was introduced in 1987, and quickly became a blockbuster drug. Its success was due to the fact that it had relatively few side effects, unlike other antidepressants on the market at the time.

Prevailing wisdom holds that people who are depressed have a chemical imbalance brought on by low serotonin levels. Most experts now say that this model is outdated. Depression is actually much more complicated than “chemical imbalance.” Though serotonin plays a role in the treatment of depression, low serotonin is likely not the cause of depression. In fact, researchers don’t really know what causes depression. It may actually be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. The complexity of depression makes it difficult to treat and cure. Prozac is one of the most effective treatments, which is why millions of women have used it, even during pregnancy.

Prozac Use During Pregnancy

A study of patterns of antidepressant use among women in the United States found that, between 1998 and 2005, 4.5% of mothers reported using an antidepressant during pregnancy or three months before pregnancy. 3.8% used an SSRI, and 0.7% used Wellbutrin (bupropion).

Prozac linked to Birth Defects

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

The lifetime risk of developing depression is 10-25%, with the peak occurring during a woman’s childbearing years. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most commonly-prescribed antidepressant medications, and the most commonly used during pregnancy.

Some scientific studies have found a link between SSRIs and congenital heart defects, especially “hole in the heart” defects. Other studies have found a link between SSRIs and Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN), which is a serious heart-lung condition that occurs at birth. Even the FDA has warned women about the risk of PPHN caused by SSRIs.

A few scientific studies 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.

Birth Defects Linked to Prozac

Prozac has been linked to a variety of birth defects. The Prozac 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 Prozac Lawsuit?

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

Attention Lawyers: We consider a referral from another law firm to be one of the greatest compliments. If your firm is interested in referring us a case or for us to send you a list of previous award judgments and/or average referral fees, please visit the Lawyer Referral section of our website.