Celexa®

Important Birth Defect Information: Celexa® (generic name: citalopram) has been the subject of several birth defect lawsuits. As an antidepressant, Celexa® has been prescribed to hundreds of thousands of people. Unfortunately, a woman may be taking Celexa® and not know that she has become pregnant, or she may be taking Celexa® without having been told of the risk of birth defects.

Types of Birth Defects Linked to Celexa®

Celexa® treatment has, reportedly, resulted in many birth defects, including (but not limited to):

• Cardiac defects (such as atrial septal defects, ventricular septal defects, mitral valve prolapse, tetralogy of Fallot)
• Lung defects (such as persistent pulmonary hypertension in newborns [PPHN], pulmonary stenosis, pulmonary atresia)
• Abdominal defects (such as omphalocele, in which a baby is born with a sac that protrudes through the abdominal wall; the sac may contain the large and small intestines, and the liver; gastroschisis, esophageal stenosis)
• Cranial defects (such as craniosynostosis, the too-early closing of the skull bones, leading to an abnormally shaped skull)
• clubfoot

Celexa® and Autism

In addition, Celexa® may cause autism. A study by Kaiser Permanente of nearly 300 children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) revealed that women who were treated with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant such as Celexa® while they were pregnant were twice as likely to give birth to a baby who would later be diagnosed with an ASD, compared to women who didn't get such treatment.

Updated Warnings

As of March 2012, the FDA is updating the warnings about Celexa® to advise physicians and patients of two more risks:

• Dangerous electrical abnormalities of the heart (e.g., QT prolongation) in the person taking the Celexa
• Dangerously high blood pressure in pregnant women being treated with the antidepressant

The Flood Law Group Represents Individuals and Families

The Flood Law Group represents individuals and families who have suffered physical and emotional damages due to prescription drugs. If you were treated with Celexa® while you were pregnant and your child was born with a defect, you can get answers to all of your questions by contacting our attorneys to schedule a no-cost and no-obligation consultation.