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Editor: Robert Binstock
Profession: Paxil Side Effect Attorney

Category: Paxil Birth Defects

Women who are pregnant and those who are trying to become pregnant should avoid taking Paxil, due to a high risk of birth defects according to a study published in the Obstetrics & Gynecology Journal.

The obstetric practice committee warns pregnant women should not take Paxil, after two previous studies found Paxil posed a double risk of heart defects in fetuses.

A year ago, the FDA and GlaxoSmithKline (maker of Paxil) changed the drugs warning label to include the results of these studies. The FDA advised pregnant women to stop using Paxil and seek medical attention.

The FDA's enhanced warning on Paxil followed the results of a review of Sweden's birth registry that found pregnant women who took Paxil were 1.5 to 2 times more likely to give birth to a baby with heart defects than women who took other SSRIs or who did not take antidepressants at all.

Neonatal withdrawal symptoms from Paxil have also been documented from mothers taking Paxil during pregnancy