The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has classified Effexor as pregnancy category C drug. This means that the drug has caused harm to the animals during testing.
Information available on various medical sources of repute suggests that Effexor must be used by pregnant women only if clearly needed. The drug can harm an unborn baby. This is especially true if Effexor is used during last 3 months of pregnancy. Pregnant women taking Effexor are also advised to tell their doctors that they are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Breast-feeding mothers taking the drug must also talk to their doctor.
Effexor may be a popularly prescribed antidepressant but it has the potential of causing serious harm to babies at the time of birth. This possibility is not even denied by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Effexor's manufacturer. In a letter written to healthcare professionals, Wyeth updated important safety information regarding the drug, as requested by the FDA.
Under Effexor's information on "Non-teratogenic Effects", Wyeth Pharmaceuticals admitted that neonates (babies up to four weeks old) exposed to Effexor XR and other antidepressants, late in the third trimester have developed the following complications:
These complications may require prolonged hospitalization of the new born, tube-feeding and respiratory support.
Effexor LawsuitIn what appears to be the very first lawsuit against a popular antidepressant Effexor file in October 2012, the plaintiffs alleged that due to the mother's use of the drug during pregnancy, their daughter was born with a fatal birth defect three years earlier.
The plaintiffs' daughter Adelaide was born in October 2009 with a malformed aorta and mitral valve. She died shortly after birth. Her parents alleged that the drug's manufacturer failed to inform the doctors that are treating pregnant women regarding the possible birth defects associated with the use of Effexor. This is not the first time Wyeth Pharmaceuticals has failed to fully inform the public at large regarding the risks associated with the use of Effexor.
The U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services warning letter to Wyeth Pharmaceuticals
In a warning letter written to the chairman and chief executive officer of Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services warned the company about a journal ad of Effexor XR, as the "… journal ad is misleading because it overstates the efficacy of Effexor XR, makes unsubstantiated superiority claims, in addition to other unsubstantiated claims, and minimizes the risks associated with the use of Effexor XR."
Effexor lawyerSince 2012, when Wyeth Pharmaceuticals was first sued for Effexor's birth defects, there have been more lawsuits filed against the drug.
In another lawsuit, plaintiffs from Illinois alleged that their daughter was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a rare condition, and that this happened due to her mother's use of Effexor during pregnancy. They also alleged that the drug's manufacturer failed to completely disclose the development of birth defects associated with the use of Effexor.
If you, a loved one or someone you know has been a victim of Effexor, you may eligible for claiming compensation for treatment-related costs and punitive damages. Contact an Effexor lawyer, as he/she will be in a better position to further guide you on how to go about filing a lawsuit against Wyeth Pharmaceuticals.
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