Despite Lexapro Birth Defects, Medication Launched in Japan

Tokyo, JapanWhile Lexapro birth defects and other side effects have been well documented in recent years, the medication has been launched in Japan after positive studies, according to a release from pharmaceutical company H. Lundbeck A/S.

In the release, the drug company explained that its partners Mochida Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation (MTPC) have decided to introduce the 10 mg version of the antidepressant in Japan. The launch of Lexapro comes after Mochida reportedly received marketing approval after the National Health Insurance Drug Price listing.

Ole Chrintz, senior vice president of Lundbeck's international markets division, said in a statement that the company was excited to introduce the antidepressant to Japanese patients following a short approval process.

"It is a milestone in our global expansion strategy that Lexapro is now available in Japan following a fast regulatory process," Chrintz explained. "We are pleased that Lexapro will now also contribute to improving quality of life for patients in Japan diagnosed with depression."

While the drug company touts the fact that Lexapro is the most-prescribed branded antidepressant medication in the world, the fact remains that there are a number of risks associated with the drug, as well as other antidepressants.

According to a release from the US Food and Drug Administration in 2006, for instance, a case-control study indicated that babies born to mothers who took selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Lexapro after their 20th week of pregnancy were reportedly six times more likely to suffer from persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) than those born to women who did not take antidepressants.

The National Institutes of Health report that PPHN occurs in approximately 1.9 per 1,000 newborns, with the use of antidepressants by mothers during pregnancy elevating this risk.

Additionally, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), Lexapro has been linked to a number of other side effects. While the severity of these side effects can vary, some of the more common symptoms often include increased sweating, stomach pain, excessive tiredness and dry mouth.

Antidepressants such as Lexapro, Celexa, Paxil and Prozac have also been associated with some cases of suicidal thoughts among young adults, according to the NCBI. Patients experiencing such symptoms are encouraged to contact their physician immediately.