Lexapro Heart Birth Defects

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Lexapro (also known as Escitalopram) is a type of antidepressant called a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI). It is used to treat anxiety and major depressive disorder.

Recently, SSRIs such as Lexapro taken during pregnancy have been linked to serious birth defects in babies, including some heart problems. A Danish study found that women who used SSRIs during pregnancy were at 34 percent higher risk of delivering a baby with congenital malformations than those who did not take SSRIs during pregnancy. Furthermore, women in the study who took SSRIs similar to Lexapro during the second or third month of pregnancy had an 84 percent higher risk of having a baby with heart defects.

Meanwhile, a US study found that when mothers use SSRI antidepressants in the early stages of pregnancy the infant is 2.2 times more likely to have a birth defect and is 2.08 times more likely to have a heart problem. The majority of heart defects involved ventricular septal defects which can require surgery to repair.

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.

So far, most of the SSRI studies have been done on the drug Paxil, another SSRI antidepressant. Based on those studies, the FDA has advised health care officials not to prescribe Paxil for women who are in their first three months of pregnancy or who are planning on becoming pregnant unless there are no other appropriate treatment options. More studies are required on other SSRIs that are similar to Paxil and Lexapro.

Women who are pregnant should speak with their doctor immediately about whether or not to continue taking Lexapro. In some cases, the doctor may recommend tapering off the medication in order to prevent withdrawal syndrome. However, the longer it takes to completely stop the medication, the longer the fetus is exposed to Lexapro which increases the likelihood of some form of heart defect in the newborn.

Lexapro Heart Birth Defects in the News

NOV-08-06: Danish study finds SSRI use during pregnancy can raise the risk of birth defects. [YAHOO: LEXAPRO BIRTH DEFECTS]

Lexapro Heart Birth Defects

If your baby was born with heart birth defects, and you took Lexapro while pregnant, you may need legal help. Please click the link below to send your complaint to a lawyer who will review your claim at no cost.