Children born with birth defects to mothers who were taking the anti-depressant Effexor may be eligible for just compensation recovered in lawsuits against the drug’s manufacturer. Lawsuits are being filed around the country by mothers who may have never been informed of potential dangers associated with use of the medication during pregnancy. As a result, hundreds of thousands of mothers may have been taking Effexor during their pregnancy as it is one of the most commonly prescribed anti-depressant medications on the market today.

Information About Effexor

Effexor is an anti-depressant used for the treatment of a variety of disorders including panic and generalized anxiety disorders. The drug belongs to a family of anti depressants known as SSNRI (Selective Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reputake Inhibitors) drugs. Other large name anti depressants found in this group include Cymbalta, Ambien, Abilify, Paxil, Prozac and Xanex.

Information about the birth defects linked to Effexor have been emerging since 2005. The FDA has even issued warnings to medical providers to discontinue the prescribing or refilling of this and similar drugs to pregnant women.

Common Birth Defects

Evidence to support the dangers of Effexor in pregnant women was suggested as early as 2004. In 2010, the Canadian Medical Association Journal published information that suggested that use of the drug could as much as double the chances of miscarriage.

The most common birth defects in newborns linked to Effexor include problems with the heart and lungs. These severe defects were reported even in women who took minimal dosages and were linked to administration of the drug in all three trimesters of pregnancy. The most common conditions believed to be linked to Effoxor include:

• Fetal Death
• Miscarriage
• Asthma
• Attempted Suicide by the Mother
• Continued Pulmonary Hypertension in Newborn
• Pulmonary Stenosis
• Ventricular Septal Defects
• Artial Septal Defects
• Club Foot
• Cleft Lip or Palate
• Heart Ventricular Outflow Track Defects
• Craniosynostosis

While these conditions denote the most frequent and serious of the heart and lung conditions that tend to link with Effexor use, they are not the only side effects. You should still seek out information if your newborn displayed any other forms of heart, lung, or other birth defects.

Many of these conditions can cause permanent lifelong defects that are not only difficult to deal with emotionally, but also quite costly. Understanding your legal rights as they pertain to the defects and use of this drug can help you acquire compensation to help deal with your pain, suffering and related medical expenses.

If You Currently Take Effexor

If you're currently taking Effexor and are either pregnant or planning to become pregnant, you should talk with your doctor about the possibility of coming off of the drug. You may experience withdrawal symptoms including tingling of the skin, sweating, mood changes, confusion, inability to sleep, loss of concentration or coordination and fatigue.

Consulting With a Qualified Attorney

If your child was born with moderate to severe birth defects that you believe to be caused by the use of Effexor, you could have grounds for a lawsuit against the manufacturer. Your first step is to contact a lawyer experienced in such court cases who is also familiar with prescription medications like Effexor. Finding this person early in your process will help you understand if you indeed have grounds for a lawsuit. The lawyer will then walk you through the legal process of obtaining the correct documentation and filing the proper paperwork you will need in your claim.