Dallas Effexor Birth Defect Lawyer

If your child suffered a birth defect due to the use of Effexor® during pregnancy, your family may be owed compensation.

Depression is a disorder which affects millions of Americans across the board. During pregnancy, depression and various comorbidities often plague certain individuals, necessitating treatment. The drug Effexor (Venlafaxine) is in a class of antidepressants known as SNRI’s, or serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors.

We now know that Effexor has the very real potential to cause birth defects when taken by an expecting mother. Unfortunately, many children have already suffered life-altering effects as a result of the drug.

How does Effexor work for depression?

Effexor works by making the brain store more quantities of two chemicals known as serotonin and norepinephrine - which are thought to be low in people with depression. This is a drug that was named as a Pregnancy Category ‘C’ drug by the Food and Drug Administration for pregnant women because of its potential to cause birth defects.

It has been shown that Effexor has the potential to cause birth defects when taken during pregnancy, especially for pregnant women who take it after their 20^th week of pregnancy. That being said, psychiatrists and behavioral therapists have prescribed it to expectant mothers for the past 20+ years.

Effexor and birth defects.

Effexor leads to a potentially fatal condition known as serotonin syndrome, characterized by nausea, fever, hallucinations, muscle pain, stiffness and coma. Too much serotonin harms an unborn fetus and leads to birth defects such as:

• an enlarged heart
• bone malformation
• Spina bifida
• cleft palate defect
• neural tube defects
• macrocephaly
• transposition of the large arteries
• Craniosynostosis
• Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn, and more.

Effexor medication usually comes with a black box warning that clearly lays out the risks of taking the drug while pregnant. However, some doctors may choose to carry out a risk-benefit analysis in order to gauge whether their patient needs treatment for their depression during pregnancy. In some cases, physicians may negligently prescribe the drug, cognizant of the fact that some of the side effects it presents to both the mother and her unborn baby. The makers of the drug, Wyeth (now owned by Pfizer®), knew about these potential side effects and did not inform physicians about them, which is, in effect, inadvertent negligence on their part.

Speak with an Effexor lawyer in Dallas, Texas!

Since 2012, countless lawsuits have been filed against the makers of Effexor, culminating in a class action lawsuit. If your child was born with a birth defect due to the use of Effexor, it’s in your best interests to contact a Dallas drug injury attorney who specializes in Effexor lawsuits. This improves your chances of getting a better outcome as well as maximum compensation for your family.

Please call Rasansky Law Firm today at (214) 651-6100 for your free consultation into a potential Effexor birth injury claim or lawsuit. Our aggressive attorneys will fight for every penny that you and your child deserve. Call and speak with us today.