Following Suit: SSRI Lawsuit Update

SSRI lawsuits allege infants who were exposed to SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) prior to birth were born with birth defects. Among the defects reportedly linked to SSRIs are cardiac defects such as septal defects and non-cardiac defects including spina bifida. Meanwhile, other lawsuits allege drug manufacturers misled parents into giving their children SSRIs off-label.

span itemprop="image" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/ImageObject" style="display:block">In January 2014, a lawsuit involving Lexapro and Celexa was granted class-action status. The lawsuit (case number 1:09-md-02067) alleges plaintiffs were misled into giving their children the SSRIs, even though the drugs had not been approved for use in children.

A different lawsuit involving Lexapro was also filed. This lawsuit (case number 14-cv-00114) alleged the plaintiff’s daughter died two weeks after birth due to birth defects linked to her exposure to the SSRI.

In a separate lawsuit involving Lexapro/Celexa (case number 13-1832), a judge has ruled that Forest Pharmaceuticals must face allegations concerning the link between SSRIs and birth defects. The lawsuit alleges an infant died weeks after being born with birth defects due to her exposure to SSRIs in the womb. Forest moved to dismiss the claims, but the judge refused to dismiss the lawsuit.