Celexa

There have been serious, life-threatening birth defects linked to Celexa (citalopram), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) prescribed for anxiety and depression, and manufactured by Forest Laboratories, along with Cipramil, Emocal, Sepram, and Seropram.

Before prescribing Celexa (citalopram), health care professionals should warn patients of childbearing age about the potential hazard to the fetus if a woman becomes pregnant while using the drug.

Celexa Birth Defects

Along with treating depression, Celexa (citalopram) is often prescribed during pregnancy to help with anxiety. The FDA is strengthening its warning for Celexa (citalopram) due to birth defects including:

1. Cardiac birth defects: septal heart defects, pulmonary valve stenosis and left ventricular outflow defects (aortic valve stenosis, subvalveular aortic stenosis and supravalvular aortic stenosis)

2. Abdominal birth defects: including omphalocele (organs on the outside of the body), gastroschisis (protruding intestines) and pyloric stenosis (blockage preventing stomach from draining). The New England Journal of Medicine in June 2007 found that use of SSRI drugs in the first trimester doubled the risk of club foot, anal atresia, diaphragmatic hernia and limb reduction defects. Another study, the National Birth Defects Prevention Study showed the risk of anencephaly, crainosynostosis and omphlocele were doubled with use

3. Cranial birth defects: including crainosynostosis (joints in skull close prematurely) and anencephaly (absence of a major portion of the brain, skull and scalp resulting in still birth)

4. Respiratory defects: particularly Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN) which means the ductus does not close and the baby’s blood flow bypasses the lungs like it did before birth (caused by third trimester exposure). The FDA in July 2006 issued a warning that said women who took SSRI’s are six times more likely to give birth to a child with PPHN.

5. Other defects: including club foot, cystic kidney, cleft lip and palate, spina bifida, hypospadius (abnormal opening in the penis), atresia (absence or abnormal closure) of the anus, esophagus or intestines

If you or a loved one suffered when using Celexa (citalopram), contact us.

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Celexa

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