Elk & Elk birth defect lawyers in Ohio looking into SSRI antidepressants

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor class of antidepressants linked to a variety of perinatal complications. Our Ohio injury lawyers can help if your family has been affected.

The Ohio injury lawyers at Elk & Elk are investigating the connection between the use of a group of antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) by expectant mothers and a variety of birth defects. If you or someone you know has been prescribed any of the drugs in this class and experienced birthing difficulties that left the newborn with any of a number of life-burdening defects, you need a birth defect lawyer in Ohio.

Our Ohio injury lawyers are standing by and ready to thoroughly investigate the circumstances related to your injured baby. We’re just a phone call or a click away. Simply dial 1-800-ELK-OHIO to begin a free, no-obligation case analysis. Or fill out our online case evaluation form. It’s also free and requires no commitment. If you do become a client, you’ll owe us nothing unless we achieve a successful result for you.

What are SSRIs?

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are a class of antidepressant used to treat not only the symptoms of depression. Some are also cross-indicated to treat symptoms related to anxiety, seasonal affective disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and social anxiety disorder, among others. Some common drugs in this class are:

One of the biggest issues surrounding the expectant mother’s decision about whether to stop taking this type of medication is the fact that doing so can often create serious side effects. Patients who abruptly cease a SSRI regimen often experience what’s known as antidepressant discontinuation syndrome. It’s marked by one or more of the following: Insomnia, chronic nausea, flu-like symptoms and hyperarousal (a heightened state of psychological and physical tension,) among other symptoms

SSRI-related birth defects

Clinicians have been studying the effects of SSRIs in unborn and newborn children since the mid-2000’s. Early studies suggested a link between these antidepressants and persistent pulmonary hypertension in newborn babies, according to articles published through the Mayo Clinic. The clinic also points to other conditions including anencephaly, incomplete skull and brain formation; craniosynostosis, a birth complication involving sutures in newborns’ heads closing prematurely; and omphalocele – when a baby’s intestines protrude from the belly button. Other studies have suggested a connection between an increased likelihood of miscarriage and low birth weight.

You need a skilled, hard-working birth defect lawyer in Ohio to fight for your family’s rights and help ensure your injured baby has the best chance at a normal life despite being adversely affected by the mother’s use of prescription antidepressants near or during pregnancy. Just call us today at 1-800-ELK-OHIO or take a few minutes to complete our online form to get our highly-specialized team of Ohio injury lawyers, investigators, doctors, nurses and life-care consultants busy on your case.