| Paxil is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) prescribed for depression and several related disorders. Paxil is approved by the FDA (Federal Food and Drug Administration) for treatment of adults only, because studies presented to the FDA have not shown that Paxil is effective for treating children under 18.
Suffered harm from Paxil? You may have a lawsuit. Click here, for a top rated law firm to evaluate your legal rights.
Paxil has been implicated in several serious and often life-threatening side effects including suicide, birth defects, and terrible withdrawal symptoms in patients and infants whose mothers took Paxil during pregnancy. The most recent study released in March 2006 has linked Paxil and other SSRIs to a new form of birth defect. A 2005 FDA warning also implicated Paxil in congenital malformations. (See Drug Warnings: Paxil Side Effects and Risks) The newest study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that infants born to mothers who took SSRIs, including Paxil, in the last half of their pregnancies were 6 times more likely to develop persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPH). Infants with PPH do not get enough oxygen and require intensive care to survive. Around 10 to 20 percent die soon after birth and some survivors suffer from deafness and neurological problems.
Two studies in 2005 indicated that Paxil was more likely to cause side effects than other drugs in the SSRI category. A September 2005 study presented to the FDA showed that there was a higher risk of major congenital malformations in infants whose mothers took Paxil during the first trimester of pregnancy than with other SSRIs. An August 2005 study from Norway found that Paxil presented a higher risk of suicide in adults.
Paxil and other SSRI drugs are often prescribed under the American Psychiatric Association treatment guidelines, which say, “most moderately and severely depressed patients will require medication.” A 2005 study led by Pennsylvania psychologist Robert DeRubeis and Steven Hollon from Vanderbilt, has challenged this assumption. Their study found that cognitive therapy was as effective and lasted longer than treatment with SSRI drugs in depressed patients. Most of the patients in the study took SSRIs received Paxil. DeRubeis and Hollon recommend that the American Psychiatric Association revise its treatment guidelines.
If you’re taking Paxil, you may want to consult with your health care provider about alternative therapies. If you’re pregnant or considering becoming pregnant, consult with your health care provider immediately about possible birth defects. If you or a family member has been injured from using Paxil, you may be entitled to damages[. See Paxil Attorney and Lawyer – How to Hire for more information on finding a qualified Paxil attorney to evaluate your case.
Check out the following articles for more information about Paxil, filing a Paxil lawsuit and finding a Paxil attorney:
Suffered harm from Paxil? You may have a lawsuit. Click here, for a top rated law firm to evaluate your legal rights. | 
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