When the antidepressant medication Celexa (citalopram) is used during pregnancy, it may increase the risk of having a baby with a birth defect.
What is the problem?
Celexa (citalopram) is a prescription antidepressant that has been on the market since 1998. Celexa is Pregnancy Category C, which means it might cause birth defects, but doctors may still prescribe it to a pregnant woman if the benefits justify the risks. When it is used during pregnancy, Celexa is known to pass to a developing fetus.
First-trimester use of Celexa was linked to a 2.5-fold increased risk of heart defects in a study published by the British Medical Journal in 2011. Third-trimester use of Celexa may also increase the risk of Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN), according to a Safety Communication published by the FDA.
Celexa Class Action Lawsuit Information
Forest Laboratories, Inc., the manufacturer of Celexa, reportedly agreed to pay between $7.7 million and $10.4 million to resolve a multi-district litigation (MDL) involving Celexa, according to Law360. The lawsuit accused Forest of improperly “off-label” marketing Celexa to children in Missouri, although it was only FDA-approved for adults.
Hundreds of women who used SSRI antidepressants during pregnancy have filed lawsuits against drug-makers for failing to warn about the risk of birth defects. These lawsuits are not part of a class action — instead, they are individual lawsuits filed on behalf of children. Over 300 cases involving Zoloft have been centralized in an MDL.
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