Effexor Lawsuit

Expectant mothers who take Effexor or other form of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), during the third trimester of their pregnancy are at a higher risk of giving birth to a newborn with serious breathing issues or PPHN. ¹ Was your newborn harmed by these Effexor side effects?  Please contact the Simmons Firm right away. The Simmons Firm can look over your case to see if you could be due compensation.*

The reason for an Effexor lawsuit is due to the insufficient warnings from drug manufacturers to expectant mothers and their doctors about the link between Effexor and PPHN.  Newborns diagnosed with PPHN, or those newborns suffering from breathing difficulties in general at birth, may have other serious conditions or developmental delays that may not manifest until much later. 

WHAT IS EFFEXOR?

Effexor (or venlafaxine) is an antidepressant in a class of drugs known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).  SSRIs manipulate the serotonin in the brain by stopping the brain from absorbing too much. More serotonin in the brain has been shown to improve mood.

SSRIs are sold under numerous brand names including:

• Prozac
• Celexa
• Zoloft
• Paxil
• Cipralex
• Luvox
• Remeron

EFFEXOR SIDE EFFECTS

According to the February 9, 2006 report in the New England Journal of Medicine, Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension in Newborns (PPHN) is not only one of the Effexor side effects but it is also a side effect of SSRIs in general. The condition causes breathing issues in newborns. Newborns with respiratory issues that were not diagnosed as PPHN related are also considered to have been affected by the Effexor side effects.

Newborns treated for their respiratory condition at birth can appear normal after the treatment. Unfortunately, every second their brain and other organs lacked oxygen could have caused serious damage which may not manifest until later.  In addition, your child may have developmental delays that may not show up for several months.

FDA WARNING

It was after the New England Journal of Medicine release their February 9, 2006 report that the FDA released a warning stating that SSRIs, which includes Effexor, taken late in pregnancy puts newborns at a much higher risk for PPHN. The warning can be found at the Food and Drug Administration’s website:

http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2009/021519s001,022033s002lbl.pdf

^{* Please note that recovery results vary per client. The recovery amounts in each case reflect the specific facts of that case. Further, recovery amounts in past cases are not a guarantee of future results.}

CONTACT THE SIMMONS FIRM

In addition to the Effexor lawsuit, the Simmons Firm also handles other cases, such as mesothelioma, commercial, intellectual property, defective medical devices and other pharmaceutical litigation. If you interested in more information about the other types of cases we handle, please contact the Simmons Firm for a free legal consultation.