Cranial Defects & Craniosynostosis Linked to Antidepressants

PAXIL AND THE POSSIBLE LINK TO CRANIOSYNOSTOSIS Like other miracle drugs, the antidepressant Paxil enjoyed an early life of glamour and fame. Touted as the best anti-depressant on the market, Paxil spent its early days attempting to prove its claimsand it succeeded. In the early 1990s, Paxil quickly became the most prescribed antidepressant in the United States. But then the new millennium hit and now it is time to pay the bill.

In early 2003, GlaxoSmithKline, the makers of Paxil, were asked by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) to commission a study of Paxil and its possible side effects. GlaxoSmithKline complied. The results of the study werent exactly promising.

The study confirmed that a greater percentage of expectant mothers who used Paxil during the first trimester were two times more likely to have a baby with Craniosynostosis and other birth defects than expectant mothers who used other antidepressants. Since then, the FDA has issued three separte public health advisories warning the public about the possible side effects of using Paxil.

Summaries of the three reports:

• FDA Public Advisory One: September 2005 Expectant mothers who use Paxil are two times more likely to give birth to a baby with Craniosynostosis, heart defects and other birth defects as expectant mothers who did not use Paxil.
• FDA Public Advisory Two: March/April 2006 The FDA updated its earlier warning by suggesting that doctors not prescribe Paxil to women during their first trimester.
• FDA Public Advisory Three: July 2006 A new study is released titled Treatment Challenges of Depression in Pregnancy. In this advisory, the FDA warns of a depression relapse in women who decide to stop taking their antidepressant.

WHAT IS CRANIOSYNOSTOSIS However, Craniosynostosis is a big important medical word. Why should we be concerned? Reason: Craniosynostosis is a Paxil birth defect that causes an infants skull to close long before it is due. This can cause skull deformities and other ailments that the infant and the family could conceivably have to deal with for the babys entire life. SYNDROMES ASSOCIATED WITH CRANIOSYNOSTOSIS There are a number of syndromes associated with craniosynostosis, not least of which is Crouzon Syndrome. Infants who suffer from Crouzons Syndrome often develop wide-set bulging eyes, a beaked nose and flat face. Other syndromes associated with Craniosynostosis include: NAME OF SYNDROME SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

• Apert syndrome: fused fingers or toes flat midface
• Crouzonodermoskeletal syndrome: wide-set, bulging eyes beaked nose flat face dark, velvety skin folds spine abnormalities

benign growths in the jaw

Jackson-Weiss syndrome: enlarged, bent big toes flat midface

Loeys-Dietz syndrome: wide-set eyes split uvula or cleft palate arterial tortuosity aneurysms

Muenke syndrome: coronal synostosis skeletal abnormalities of the hands or feet hearing loss

Pfeiffer syndrome: broad, short thumbs or big toes webbed or fused fingers or toes

Saethre-Chotzen syndrome: facial asymmetry low frontal hairline drooping eyelids webbed fingers or toes broad big toes

>WHERE DO YOU GO FROM HERE Where do you go from here? Thats a question that needs to be discussed in great detail with your physician. Should you stop taking Paxil and risk a relapse? Should you continue to take Paxil and risk Craniosynostosis and other birth defects in your newborn? Thats a question you have to answer yourself. At least now though you have the information needed to make an educated decision.

Schmidt & Clark | A National Law Firm specializes in mass torts and drug side effect lawsuits. For more information or a free review of your potential case, please visit: http://www.schmidtandclark.com or Paxil Craniosynostosis

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