The Most Common Effexor Birth Defects

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by: M. Riley
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Word Count: 532
Date: Mon, 16 May 2011 Time: 10:59 PM

The health of pregnant women and the unborn children are always at risk and that’s why the right prescriptions and warning should be on any medication to avoid potential serious side effects such as the problems associated with SSRI drugs and Effexor birth defects. This drug is used as an antidepressant and it is also a popular drug in treating mental disorders. However, if a pregnant woman takes it, especially in the first two months of her pregnancy, there is the chance that the fetus will not develop fully. This is cause for concern for many people because such babies may not survive and they will definitely lack a normal life. Effexor birth defects can affect the main organs in the baby’s body and in most cases, they are noticed when the child is born.

One of the more serious Effexor birth defects is persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN). It is a cause for lawsuits against the manufacturer of this antidepressant for failing to warn pregnant mothers about the effect it will have on development. This type of Effexor birth defects are characterized by several symptoms such as breathing rapidly, a fast heart rate, short breath, perspiration, bluish coloration of the skin because some parts of the body are not getting sufficient levels of oxygen and the child will act sluggishly because he or she does not have the energy. A medical examination will determine whether the child is suffering from the Effexor birth defects or there is an underlying condition.

In addition, a child might be born with heart Effexor birth defects. This results from poor development parts of this organ and overall, the heart will not function normally. For instance, if the aorta narrows during development, the amount of blood going to other parts of the body will be less because it is responsible for leading blood out of the heart. In addition, Effexor birth defects may occur when the heart valve blocks, is narrow or cannot function at all or the arteries transporting blood in or out of the heart reverse their duties. On the other hand, the child may suffer from Effexor birth defects known as Omphalocele. In this case the intestines or another part of the abdomen will be visible on the navel. It occurs when the wall of the abdomen fails to develop fully leaving the organs exposed.

This type of Effexor birth defects can be identified before the child is born. The mother is placed under observation to protect the baby and to ensure the delivery is in order without damaging the baby further. When any of these and other Effexor birth defects are diagnosed, the parent can file a lawsuit to hold the manufacturer of the drug responsible. The parent should contact an attorney who has handled such cases before to get a brief of the legal process and the chances of seeking compensation for the Effexor birth defects. This is important because cases differ depending with the extent of the defect. A medical examination should be conducted to confirm that the drug led to the Effexor birth defects after the mother took them when pregnant.

About the Author

Michael Riley is the author of this article on Effexor Lawsuits 2011. Find more information on Effexor Birth Defects here.

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