Paxil and pregnancy do not go hand in hand. Paxil (paroxetine) may cause severe birth defects to your baby, especially if you take it the first three months of your pregnancy. This has caused many Paxil Lawsuit cases due to birth defects.

The FDA has advised that research studies of this antidepressant, Paxil, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) antidepressant drug, may increase your risk of having a baby with birth defects, especially heart atrial and ventricular septal defects which are holes in the walls of the chambers of the heart, by 11/2 to 2 times as those pregnant women who either did not take Paxil or took another type of antidepressant.

The severity of these Paxil birth defects can be labelled as minor and recover with no treatment to as bad as serious and must be repaired surgically.

Paxil and Pregnancy

Paxil and Pregnancy FDA announcement

FDA is advising health care professionals to discuss the potential risk of birth defects with patients taking Paxil who plan to become pregnant or are in their first three months of pregnancy. Health care professionals should consider discontinuing Paxil (and switching to another antidepressant if indicated) in these patients. In some patients, the benefits of continuing Paxil may be greater than the potential risk to the fetus. FDA is advising health care professionals not to prescribe Paxil in women who are in the first three months of pregnancy or are planning pregnancy, unless other treatment options are not appropriate.

Reference: FDA release P05-97 December 8, 2005Zq

Paxil and Pregnancy and Paxil Product Labeling Change

The manufacturer of the SSRI antidepressant, Paxil, has changed the labeling on the drug from a pregnancy class C to a pregnancy class D. This is significant, because it means controlled or observed studies of pregnant women who also take this drug, have shown there is a risk to the baby.

A Pregnancy Class D drug is described as a drug which have caused, are suspected to have caused or may be expected to cause, an increase in fetus malformations or irreversible problems.

Your Doctor, Paxil and Pregnancy

You should definitely tell your doctor, immediately, if you currently take the Paxil antidepressant and become pregnant. In addition, if you are trying to get pregnant and currently take Paxil, you should also talk to your doctor.

Doctors have been advised not to prescribe Paxil to pregnant women. They have also been advised to switch the antidepressant if you have become pregnant and currently take Paxil.

However, not all doctors keep up to date on the latest reports coming from the FDA regarding harmful drugs for pregnant women, so please be aware you may have to bring up this subject yourself, if you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant.

If you or a loved one has experienced this heartache of Paxil Side Effects and baby birth defects, you may be eligible for compensation.

Please remember, Paxil and Pregnancy do not mix.

MORE Paxil Lawsuit Info:

1. Paxil Lawsuits Info dot com Intro