According to recent studies, Celexa might be the cause of some very serious side effects including birth defects. This drug is proven to cause heart defects in newborns and has created concerns among many physicians and health care professionals. Celexa has also been proven to lead to an increased risk of Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of newborns.

Information About Celexa

This antidepressant drug is sold under the brand name Celexa and classified as an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor). Celexa has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of serious depression, although doctors may prescribe it for anxiety as well. Celexa is also prescribed to treat conditions like OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), BDD (body dysmorphic disorder), and many other related conditions.

Although Celexa was created in 1989, the patent expired in 2003, meaning that other companies are now making generic versions of the drug.

Birth Defects as Serious Side Effects

Celexa has been linked to Primary Pulmonary Hypertension and many other birth defects. The link between Celexa and these defects has been brought to the attention of the general public by numerous studies, including one published by the New England Journal of Medicine. This study involved several recent mothers who had used Celexa during their pregnancy. The study revealed that Primary Pulmonary Hypertension was six times more likely for these mothers than for those not taking Celexa.

Even though Celexa is classified by the FDA as a potential cause of birth defects, many mothers don’t know they’re pregnant until they are 10 to 12 months along. Since most of the defects occur around the 12th week of pregnancy, many mothers are taking antidepressants without even knowing that they’re pregnant.

Other Side Effects of Celexa

Celexa is documented to cause several side effects because it increases serotonin in different parts of the body. This leads to a number of common side effects including:

• Insomnia
• Drowsiness
• Weight changes
• Frequent urination
• Decreased sex drive
• Dry Mouth
• Anorgasmia
• Trembling
• Excessive Yawning
• Increased Sweating
• Diarrhea
• Fatigue

There are some less common side effects that include:

• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Vomiting
• Dilated Pupils
• Cardiac Arrhythmia
• Mood Swings

Individual and Class Action Celexa Lawsuits

Individual lawsuits are normally the result of more extreme cases, such as death or serious injury. Since Celexa has been linked with several conditions, when a serious tragedy is sustained, the individual most affected files her own separate lawsuit against the company. The difference between individual and class action lawsuits is that each individual’s case is reviewed and the victim receives an amount based on her loss. Sometimes, the company in question will pay a settlement rather than suffer the costs and exposure of court appearances.

Determining Just Compensation

Many of the lawsuits filed against antidepressants like Celexa involve serious congenital heart defects. In most of these cases, surgery is required to fix the problem. In some cases, surgery and medical care can actually allow the child to live a normal and productive life. But in other cases, the individual might have to endure numerous operations throughout their life. Due to the high cost of surgery, many lower income families have no choice but to seek some kind of financial compensation. There are even adults who are filing lawsuits now because they were born with defects and have suffered their whole lives.