SSRI Cases

SSRI is an acronym for Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor. SSRIs are a class of medications sold under many different brand names including Celexa, Lexapro, Cipralex, Paxil, Favoxil and Zoloft, among others. These medications are intended to treat depression, and are often used to treat conditions including panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, PTSD, social anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, premenstrual dysphoric disorder and other related mental conditions. All of these SSRIs work in a similar manner- by increasing serotonin production, which is believed to help alleviate depression.

Unfortunately, SSRI medications have turned out to cause a number of side effects that are very serious and/or that people were not warned about at the time when they began taking the drugs. These side effects include congenital birth defects and increased thoughts of suicide. If you or a loved one has been injured or harmed by taking an SSRI, it is very important to speak with a Massachusetts personal injury lawyer for assistance. The experienced Boston personal injury lawyers at Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers can help you to understand if you have a case against the drug company and can assist you in making your claim if you do.

Drug companies have an obligation to make medical products that work as promised, and an obligation to warn people of any potential dangers associated with the products they are selling. Unfortunately, SSRI medications that were released on the market had many side effects that people were not aware of. For example, various studies have linked SSRI medications to:

• Birth defects when a mother took SSRI medications when pregnant. Examples of birth defects linked to SSRI use include a lung disorder called PPHN; congenital heart defects (including hypoplastic left heart system, pulmonary or tricuspid artesia and atrial or ventricular septal defects, among others); cleft palette, club foot and developmental delays.
• Hypertension in pregnant women. A study in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology indicates that women taking an SSRI during pregnancy are 60 percent more likely to develop hypertension. For women taking Paxil specifically, the increased risk was up to 80 percent.
• Increased thoughts of suicide, especially among young adults and kids taking SSRI medications.
• Serious withdrawal symptoms when discontinuing use of the drug.

If you or a loved one is experiencing any of these side effects of SSRI medications, it is important to understand that you may have the right to file a product liability lawsuit. A product liability lawsuit holds the makers of defective drugs responsible for the consequences of those drugs. The drug companies can be made to pay damages arising from the use of the drug including medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering and emotional distress.

Because product liability laws are strict liability laws, it is not necessary to prove that the manufacturer was negligent in any way in the release of the drugs. If you can prove a causal link between your use of the SSRI and the problems you or your baby developed as a result, this should be sufficient to allow you to recover compensation. Your compensation or damages may be obtained through either joining a class action or filing an individual lawsuit and your personal injury attorney will help to determine which course of action is right for you.

To learn more about how a Boston personal injury lawyer can help you if you are suffering from SSRI side effects, contact Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers today at (617) 777-7777 or using our online form.