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MEDICAL ALERT: SSRI Antidepressants Linked to Cognitive and Developmental Deficits
August 23, 2007The Journal of the American Medical Association, the New England Journal of Medicine and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have confirmed that use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a type of antidepressant, in late pregnancy can cause cognitive and developmental deficits in children.
Specifically, use of SSRIs is linked to the development of a breathing disorder called Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension in Newborns, or PPHN.
Initial symptoms of PPHN usually show up within a few days of birth, the most serious of which includes extreme difficulty breathing. While PPHN does require babies to be hospitalized, it does appear to be treatable in the short-term. However, PPHN can have a lasting impact, including lifelong developmental delays and cognitive defects.
SSRIs include: Paxil, Zoloft, Lexapro, Prozac, Celexa and more.
Visit the SimmonsCooper SSRI practice area for more information about the risks.
If you took Paxil, Lexapro or any SSRI during the second half of pregnancy and your newborn had PPHN, or if your child had breathing difficulties at birth and is now experiencing developmental delays, please contact one of our attorneys for a free consultation.