Research connecting commonly prescribed antidepressant drugs to birth defects continues to grow, say attorneys Derek Potts and Candice McNabb of the Potts Law Firm, LLP.
Kansas City, MO (PRWEB) November 12, 2011
“Concerns over the use of antidepressants – in particular, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs – have been mounting in the medical community since 2005,” said Potts, whose Kansas City personal injury law firm is investigating the claims of families whose children may have suffered birth defects because of their mother’s use of SSRIs during pregnancy.
“This latest report underscores the importance of such research, especially as pharmaceutical companies continue to develop more drugs to treat depression,” Potts said.
The study, recently published in the Archives of General Psychiatry and conducted by researchers from the University of Mississippi and the University of California-San Francisco, found that mothers who took SSRIs during the year prior to giving birth ran nearly twice the normal risk of developing autism spectrum disorder and other neurological problems.
Based on studies linking SSRIs with heart defects and a lung disorder called persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued health advisory warnings in 2005 and 2006 about the antidepressants.
According to the Mayo Clinic, health risks associated with SSRIs used during pregnancy include neural defects, abdominal development problems and limb malformation. SSRIs are the most commonly prescribed form of antidepressant medication, the Mayo Clinic states, with common brands including Zoloft, Paxil, Lexapro, Prozac and Celexa.
“Building a body of literature on SSRIs and possible birth defects is highly important,” said Candice McNabb, a drug injury attorney with the Potts Law Firm's Houston office with extensive experience in litigating complex, multidistrict litigation cases involving pharmaceuticals and other medical products.
“We support research into whether these are unsafe drugs for pregnant women and their children, and whether drug manufacturers have failed to adequately warn doctors and pregnant women of the risks associated with these drugs,” she said.
"Families across America deserve better information from pharmaceutical companies about the drugs they’re putting in their bodies," Potts said. "That’s why our law firm will continue to investigate these claims closely."
About Potts Law Firm, LLP
Founded in 2002 by Derek Potts, Potts Law Firm, LLP, is based in Kansas City, Missouri, and committed to aggressively representing those who have been wronged by the negligence, misconduct, or fraud of others from coast to coast. The firm’s practice areas include: Aviation, birth injuries, car accidents, class action, consumer protection, dangerous drugs and devices, environmental and toxic exposure, medical malpractice, motorcycle accidents, wrongful death, nursing home neglect, securities litigation, unfair business practices and truck accidents. For more information, call the firm toll-free at (866) 311-2230 or use its online form.
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Audrey Cerra
Potts Law Firm, LLP
(866) 311-2230
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