Essential Warning Signs Of Paxil Birth Defects

Paxil is medicine used to treat a number of conditions, such as panic attacks, depression, social anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Paxil works primarily by increasing the amount of serotonin in the brain. If an individual has a serotonin imbalance, it can lead to depression, in addition to a number of other unhealthy mental feelings.

Paxil was designed to combat these feelings and was considered a safe, beneficial drug until late 2005 when the FDA issued public health advisory that documented the risks to pregnant women and their babies that were a result of taking Paxil during the first trimester of pregnancy. In addition to Zoloft birth defects and the problem of the Topamax cleft palate, the FDA identified a number of Paxil birth defects, mostly related to congenital heart problems.

Before the FDA issued its report, GlaxoSmithKline conducted a study. Their study found that pregnant women who used Paxil had double the number of birth defects as pregnant women who used other antidepressant drugs. However, GlaxoSmithKline denied any causality, which forced the FDA to step in and make the company reclassify the risk of the drug to pregnant women and issue more detailed warnings.

A baby born to a woman who took Paxil during her first trimester is a risk for a number of Paxil birth defects, which are similar to Zoloft birth defects. There are four essential warning signs that the defect was caused due to the use of Paxil. Premature birth is one symptom. GlaxoSmithKline admitted that there might be an increased risk of premature birth for users of Paxil. Babies born to users of Paxil are nearly twice as likely to be born with cardiac malformations such as atrial or ventricular septal defects. When this occurs, the wall between the left and right sides of the heart has not formed completely. Depending on the severity of the condition, it might require surgery or it may heal itself.

In addition to congenital malformation, another Paxil birth defect is difficult breathing cause by persistent pulmonary hypertension. This condition is caused by high blood pressure in the lungs and exhibits the harsh symptoms of chronic bronchitis. A fourth warning sign is called craniosynostosis, which is a condition caused when a babys skull fails to form correctly because the plates do not meld. Taking Paxil during pregnancy, especially during the first trimester, greatly increases the chances of having a baby born with one of these irreparable abnormalities.

Women who are considering pregnancy and are taking Paxil should speak to their doctor about the possibility of using another antidepressant. If a woman is currently pregnant, she should speak to her doctor about gradually weaning herself off Paxil. While doctors and pharmaceutical companies have an obligation to warn patients about the risks of taking Paxil, in addition to the potential problems of taking Zoloft or a child being born with the Topamax cleft palate, it is important that users of the medication gather all of the information they need to make a decision that makes them comfortable and protects the child they are carrying.