Paxil Makers Sued Over Life-Threatening Birth Defect
The parents of a two-year-old boy who was born with a serious, life-threatening birth defect allegedly caused by maternal use of the popular antidepressant Paxil, have filed a lawsuit against the drug manufacturer seeking compensation for their losses and suffering.
Eric Jackson suffers from Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the newborn (PPHN), a severe condition in which the arteries leading to the lungs are constricted, restricting blood flow to the lungs and oxygen into the bloodstream. Nearly 10 to 20 percent of infants born with PPHN will die even with treatment.
The Paxil Lawsuit
Eric’s mother, Lisa Bowden, took Paxil throughout the entire duration of her pregnancy. According to the lawsuit, her son’s condition directly resulted from maternal drug use during pregnancy.
The product liability lawsuit claims that Paxil maker, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), failed to adequately warn doctors and patients about the serious risks—particularly birth defects risks—associated with the use of Paxil during pregnancy.
“Eric and his family have endured a terrible ordeal. Based on its history, we believe that GSK likely had knowledge or, at minimum, should have known of this very serious risk and warned expectant mothers taking Paxil of this risk,” said Karen Barth Menzies, the family’s attorney.
The Family’s Losses
The Paxil lawsuit, believed to be the first Paxil / PPHN-lung defect claim, seeks unspecified damages to compensate the family for their suffering. Since Eric’s birth, he has undergone a number of medical procedures and treatments in an effort to save his life.
Eric needed prolonged ventilator treatment immediately following his birth, which caused him to develop gastric reflux further requiring another procedure. He also underwent two heart catherization procedures and he still needs medications and oxygen to help him breath.
Paxil and PPHN
There have been three Public Health Advisories issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration since December 2005 that warned of the risk of serious birth defects linked to maternal use of Paxil during pregnancy.
Furthermore, a recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that infants whose mothers ingested Paxil during the last trimester of their pregnancy had six times the risk of developing PPHN and other severe, life-threatening birth defects.