Lexapro Class Action Lawsuit

by Steve Fields on November 14th, 2011

Many people assume that pregnancy is a joyful time, but for some women, it is filled with feelings of sadness. It’s not just the “baby blues” that these women have. In fact, as many as one in ten women who are pregnant also suffer with depression and have long-term feelings of sadness, hopelessness and helplessness. If you took Lexapro while pregnant and your child developed a birth defect, please contact for the latest Lexapro lawsuit 2011 news. We are currently filing individual claims for families and there is no national Lexapro class action lawsuit in the United States.

Some women who are depressed during pregnancy had this illness before they became pregnant, but for others, the illness developed once pregnant. Doctors know it is important to treat depression at any point, but particularly during pregnancy when the unborn baby’s health is so closely tied to the mother’s. Babies born to women with untreated depression are more likely to be born prematurely or at a lower birth weight than those born to mothers who are not actively depressed.

Additionally, women with untreated depression are more likely to use unhealthy coping skills to deal with their illness, such as smoking, drinking alcohol or using drugs—all which put their babies in danger. Traditionally, one of the first types of treatment for depression is medication. Doctors often prescribe antidepressants, perhaps in addition to environmental and lifestyle changes, in order to create more immediate results in mood. But many of the most popular antidepressants also cause great concern for pregnant women.

Many antidepressants, such as Lexapro, Celexa, Prozac, Paxil and Zoloft are the first line of defense against depression. All of these medications are a type of antidepressant called a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor, or SSRI. They all work by targeting the way the brain absorbs a chemical called serotonin, which scientists believe is key to depression. By altering this absorption, scientists hope to relieve the symptoms of depression, while limiting unpleasant side effects.

Lexapro and Birth Defects
Unfortunately, Lexapro and the other SSRIs have been linked to a variety of birth defects when used by women who are pregnant. One study indicated that when SSRIs like Lexapro were taken during the first trimester of pregnancy, babies were twice as likely to be born with an atrial or ventricular septal heart defect. Another study linked the use of SSRIs in the third trimester with a potentially fatal breathing disorder. This study said that babies exposed to SSRIs late in pregnancy were six times more likely to develop Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn, or PPHN.

If you are pregnant and currently taking an SSRI like Lexapro, talk with your doctor in order to carefully review your options to find the best method of treating depression in a way that does not increase the risk of your baby developing Lexapro birth defects side effects.

If you have had a baby who was born with a birth defect after using an SSRI, we encourage you to contact us. We are representing families who believe that the manufacturer of Lexapro should be held accountable for the injuries they have caused babies. We can help you determine your legal options so you can make the best decisions for your family. There is a limited time to file a Lexapro lawsuit 2011 claim. Please contact us at your earliest convenience. There is currently no national Lexapro class action lawsuit and our attorneys are filing individual claims on behalf of families.