Antidepressant Wellbutrin Linked to Birth Defects

Published October 23, 2012 by LawsuitInformation.org

Antidepressant Wellbutrin Linked to Birth DefectsManufactured by pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline, Wellbutrin is an antidepressant drug that has been linked to congenital birth defects. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the antidepressant medication Wellbutrin (bupropion) in order to treat depression.

Due to the increasing occurrences of life-threatening and life-altering birth defects connected with the use of Wellbutrin in pregnant mothers, the FDA has categorized Wellbutrin as a pregnancy category C drug. Unlike many antidepressants on the market that block serotonin, Wellbutrin is categorized as a norepinephrine and dopamine re-uptake inhibitor (NDRI).

Wellbutrin birth defects include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Cleft lip
  • Cleft palate
  • Congenital cardiac defects
  • Atrial Septal Defects (ASD)
  • Ventricular Septal Defects (VSD)
  • Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn(PPHN)
  • Craniosynostosis
  • Omphalocele

In 2010, a Wellbutrin study was published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology that pointed to data showing a significant link between the use of Wellbutrin by a pregnant woman, especially during the first trimester of pregnancy, and the development of congenital birth defects, in particular cardiac complications and malformations.

Termination of Wellbutrin use during pregnancy will most certainly benefit an unborn child as a result of Wellbutrin’s connection to birth defects. However, discontinued use of an antidepressant drug by a pregnant woman must be discussed with a physician in order to weigh the risks of continued use on the unborn child and terminated use on the expectant mother.

It is also important to note that following pregnancy, if a nursing mother decides to begin use of Wellbutrin, such a decision is important to discuss with a physician. It has been understood that Wellbutrin is a drug that can present itself in breast milk, and therefore, can lead to injurious health effects on a newborn.

If your newborn has suffered from birth defects correlated to exposure to Wellbutrin in the womb, submit your claim to an experienced pharmaceutical litigation lawyer at Carey Danis & Lowe. Also, contact a pharmaceutical product liability attorney at Carey Danis & Lowe at 800.721.2519 for a free legal consultation about filing a Wellbutrin lawsuit. It is important to hold GlaxoSmithKline accountable for their negligence to inform the public about Wellbutrin’s link to the development of life-threatening congenital birth defects.

Our lawyers at Carey Danis & Lowe are committed to providing you the legal support and counsel you need to win a Wellbutrin lawsuit and receive compensation for your pain, suffering, and financial losses.