Houston Paxil Attorney

About Paxil Settlements & Litigation

Paxil, a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant, has been linked to severe birth defects if it is taken by a woman during her pregnancy. Paxil may increase the birth defect risks of Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension (PPHN), as well as heart, lung, abdominal, cranial and/or facial defects, clubfoot and other birth defects. Taken by adults, Paxil can also cause significant weight gain. For children, adolescents and young adults, the drug has been shown to increase the risk of suicidal thoughts in short-term, placebo-balanced studies of major depressive disorder (MDD) and other psychiatric disorders.

What is Paxil?

FDA Warnings for Paxil

The FDA issued two health advisories regarding Paxil in July 2006. The agency issued a safety alert stating Paxil can increase the risk of persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN), a serious, life-threatening lung condition that occurs soon after birth.

In Dec. 2005, the agency issued a public health advisory regarding Paxil based upon two separate studies that linked SSRI’s (such as Paxil) with birth defects. The FDA has now moved Paxil to a category D drug, up from its previous category C classification, which means it has been shown to raise the risk of causing harm to a developing fetus.

In September 2005, Paxil creator GlaxoSmithKline sent a “Dear Doctor” letter that notified physicians and other health care professionals of a Paxil label change. The revised label announced that women who took SSRIs were more likely to give birth to an infant with omphalocele, an abnormality in which the infant’s intestine or other abdominal organs protrude from the navel. The “Dear Doctor” letter additionally indicated that there was an association of exposure to SSRIs and craniosynostosis, a congenital defect in which the connections between sutures/skull bones prematurely close during the first year of life, causing an abnormally shaped skull.

Paxil is a medication used to treat depression and other anxiety disorders, including major depressive disorder (MDD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), social anxiety disorder and anxiety disorder.

History of Paxil

› goes by the generic name paroxetine™
› contains the active ingredient paroxetine hydrochloride
› was originally approved Dec. 29, 1992
› is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline
› has not been approved by the FDA for anyone under 18 years of age

Uses of Paxil

Despite severe side effects related to the use of Paxil, some users take the drug for:
› Hotflashes
› Bipolar Disorder
› Diabetic neuropathy
› Irritable bowel syndromed
› Premature ejaculation
› Pathological gambling

Paxil Side Effects

Is a Paxil Life Threatening?

While Paxil may be effective for its approved uses, side effects associated with the drug are often severe and potentially life threatening.

Side Effects

› Birth Defects
› Congenital Heart Defects
› Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN Depression)
› Cranial Birth Defects
› Clubfoot
› Cleft Palate/Hare Lip
› Omphalocele
› Craniosynostosis
› Weight gain

Houston Paxil Lawyer

Call for a Paxil Case Consultation

If you or a loved one has experienced adverse side effects from the use of Paxil, you may qualify for compensation to help with the cost of your medical expenses, as well as your pain and suffering. To contact a Houston Paxil lawyer for a free consultation and Paxil lawsuit information, contact Gary S. Tucker and Associates by calling 1-800-275-5007.