Lexapro and Birth Defects

Lexapro (also known as escitalopram) is an antidepressant used to treat anxiety and major depressive disorder. It is part of a group of drugs called Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs).

The FDA released a Health Advisory on July 19, 2006, alerting women to the risks associated with taking SSRIs while pregnant. The advisory was based on a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine that found that mothers who took SSRIs such as Lexapro during the second half of their pregnancy were six times more likely to have a baby with Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension in the Newborn (PPHN) than those who did not take SSRIs late in pregnancy.

According to Lexapro Frequently Asked Questions (at lexapro.com), "There have been no studies done to show that Lexapro is safe to use in pregnant women. Therefore, Lexapro should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the unborn child."

Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension (PPH) is a disorder in which the arteries of the lungs are severely restricted, causing blood pressure in the pulmonary artery of the heart to rise to extremely high levels. In response, blood flow is restricted and oxygen levels in the blood decrease. Symptoms of PPH include shortness of breath, chest pain, fatigue, and fainting spells. Many patients with PPH require a lung transplant.

PPHN is a serious condition that occurs when the blood vessels in the infant's lungs remain constricted, preventing blood from being oxygenated. While in the womb, a baby's circulation is controlled by the placenta and bypasses the lungs. After the baby is born, the circulation switches from the ductus arteriosus to the lungs and the ductus arteriosus then closes. In babies with PPHN the ductus arteriosus remains open, causing blood flow to continue bypassing the lungs.

Because the blood does not enter the lungs, it is pumped back to the other organs of the body very low in oxygen. Without oxygen, the organs go into stress, putting the infant's life at risk. PPHN is generally diagnosed within 12 hours of delivery, but even with treatment newborns may experience heart failure, brain hemorrhage, seizures, and organ damage. Between 10 percent and 20 percent of infants who develop PPHN do not survive.

Symptoms of PPHN include rapid breathing and heart rate, difficulty breathing, or bluish skin. Those who survive PPHN may suffer long-term problems including difficulty breathing, seizures, developmental disorders, and hearing loss.

Without exposure to SSRIs, PPHN occurs in around one or two infants per 1,000 births. However, when there has been exposure to SSRIs during the second half of pregnancy six to 12 infants per 1,000 births developed PPHN. Babies exposed to Lexapro while in the womb can suffer withdrawal symptoms such as agitation, poor feeding, constant crying and insomnia. Lexapro can be transferred to an infant through breast milk.

The FDA has placed Lexapro in Pregnancy Category C, meaning that animal studies have indicated that there is a risk to the fetus, but human studies do not show that the risk of birth defects is greater than the risks involved in discontinuing medication.

Women who are pregnant should speak with their doctor immediately about whether or not to continue taking Lexapro.

The makers of various SSRIs now face lawsuits alleging that they failed to warn patients about the risk of birth defects associated with the use of the antidepressants while pregnant.

Lexapro Birth Defects PPHN Legal Help

If you took Lexapro while pregnant, and your baby was born with PPHN or later developed PPH, a lawyer may be able to help you. Please click the link below and your claim will be sent to an attorney who will evaluate your case for free.