Birth Defects from Wellbutrin
Posted by Lawsuit Information on July 29th, 2015
Please be advised that is is not advised to take Wellbutrin while breastfeeding. In addition, antidepressants have been found to increase the risk for spontaneous miscarriage. Women struggle to determine whether their depression will be worse for the baby or if the medication they take for the baby will be worse. Most doctors do not offer a holistic approach to treating depression which is usually the only sustainable cure that gets to the core of deep rooted behavioral patterns that are ingrained in the psyche from a young age. Most doctors also do not educate women on how to balance their hormone levels with proper diet, supplement and stress reduction techniques. So the problem of either harming the baby because of depression or medication is a major issue for women.
Wellbutrin’s manufacturer tested a low dose of the drug which is bupropion on rabbits and it showed an increase in malformations of the fetus and variations of the skeleton. There have been lawsuits now based on birth defects that have come from Wellbutrin. Unfortunately over the last few years as this drug, which is actually bupropion, has become more popular as an antidepressant and used off-label for smoking cessation, serious birth defects have been reported.
So far lawsuits over Wellbutrin against the manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline have mostly been because of congenital heart failure in infants or other serious birth defects. This drug has been prescribed off label for bipolar disorder, Seasonal Affective Disorder, ADHD as well as smoking cessation. When prescribed for smoking cessation it is marketed under the name Zyban.
Wellbutrin has different side effects than many other antidepressants because it is comprised of different chemicals. Here is the staggering truth that is the reason so many lawsuits are coming out of the woodwork now. Infants exposed to Wellbutrin as a fetus are twice as likely to develop heart defects. This was reported by the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. These malformations are often fatal and can require many painful and expensive surgeries.
The other birth defects found to be linked to Wellbutrin (bupropion) include over twenty five different issues. If you baby was born with any of these birth defects you should consider a lawsuit for your expenses and punitive damages. These birth defects include: club foot, esophageal stenosis, heart murmur, pulmonary or tricuspid atresia, aortic and tricuspid valve stenosis, anal atresia, abdominal wall and cranial skull defects, hypertension, truncus arteriosus, hypoplastic right and left heart syndromes, mitral valve, tetralogy of fallot, valves that won’t close or get stuck, Ebstein’s anomaly, holes in heart walls and atrial septal defects etc. Tragically, most of the defects include cardiac, pulmonary and neural defects.
Currently the lawsuits over Wellbutrin are being filed individually as well as in class action lawsuits. Contact a qualified lawyer for a free assessment of your case. Remember, you should not be charged a fee unless you win your case. Clearly this is a dangerous drug that one of the largest drug manufacturers is getting away with selling. This injustice can be stopped faster if more people file lawsuits and complaints with the FDA.
