Attention Mothers: If your child has been diagnosed with tricuspid atresia and you took an antidepressant medication during pregnancy, we can help. Your time may be running out – call us today.
What is Tricuspid Atresia?
Tricuspid atresia is a congenital birth defect where the affected individual’s heart has no tricuspid valve, so blood can’t flow from the right atrium to the right ventricle. As a result, the right ventricle is small and not fully developed. In this condition, low-oxygen blood that returns from the body veins to the right atrium flows through an atrial septal defect (ASD) and into the left atrium. There it mixes with oxygen-rich blood from the lungs. Most of this partially oxygenated blood goes from the left ventricle into the aorta and on to the body. Because of this abnormal circulation, the child looks blue (cyanotic).
Antidepressant use by pregnant women linked to Tricuspid Atresia
According to several scientific studies, pregnant women who take antidepressant medications are at least twice as likely to have children with heart defects such as tricuspid atresia. According to the FDA, these drugs should not be taken during pregnancy, and generally not be initiated in women who are in their first trimester of pregnancy or in women who plan to become pregnant in the near future.
Which antidepressants should expecting mothers avoid?
The following antidepressants have been associated with the development of tricuspid atresia in children born to mothers who took them during pregnancy:
- Paxil (Paroxetine)
- Zoloft (Sertraline)
- Celexa (Citalopram)
- Prozac (Fluoxetine)
- Lexapro (Escitalopram)
- Symbyax (fluoxetine and olanzapine)
- Wellbutrin (Bupropion)
- Effexor (Venlafaxine)
- Zofran (ondansetron)
Diagnosing Tricuspid Atresia
In newborns exhibiting signs and symptoms of tricuspid atresia, the amount of oxygen in the blood can be measured using a machine called a “pulse oximeter.” Based on the findings of the physical examination of the child, the physician will be prompted to order further tests to evaluate the heart.
Additionally, a diagnosis of the condition can be very accurately given by use of an echocardiogram. This involves using an ultrasound machine to make pictures of the heart and to show the direction and, in some cases, the amount of blood flow through various parts of the heart and blood vessels. To learn more about tricuspid atresia, please visit the American Heart Association for more valuable information.
Do I have a Tricuspid Atresia Lawsuit?
The Defective Drug & Products Liability Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus on the representation of plaintiffs in antidepressant drug birth defects lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new tricuspid atresia cases in all 50 states.