According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, depression is one of the most common diseases in the U.S., affecting one in ten persons (CDC). In fact, the National Center for Health Statistics found that among Americans of all ages between 2005 and 2008, antidepressants ranked third in terms of prescription drug usage. Lexapro is one prescription drug that has been used to treat anxiety and depression since 2002.
Oral medicine Lexapro (escitalopram) is used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) (GAD). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave its approval for Lexapro, which is manufactured by Forest Laboratories, LLC (Forest, an Allergen subsidiary), in August 2002.
It has since been connected to certain severe negative effects, including suicidal ideas and actions.
The SSRI called Lexapro has been connected to birth abnormalities, suicidal thoughts, and more. Patients taking Lexapro who experience severe side effects may pursue legal action to hold Forest Laboratories liable.
Lexapro: Uses & Mechanisms of Action
The FDA has approved Lexapro, an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) medication, for the treatment of MDD and GAD in adults and children over the age of 12.
To restore the overall chemical equilibrium of the brain, Lexapro works by raising serotonin levels there. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter made by nerve cells that are thought to control mood, happiness, and anxiety, as well as play a significant part in other biological functions like digestion and sleep.
Usually, it takes Lexapro a few weeks before it starts to function. When it does start to work, it often starts by resolving physical complaints and sleep issues.
The following are just a few examples of common Lexapro side effects that may or may not go away when your body becomes used to the medication:
- Nausea
- Drowsiness
- Insomnia
Impotence and reduced libido are sexual side effects.
According to the FDA, pregnant women may be prescribed Lexapro if “the potential benefit justifies the potential harm to the fetus.”
However, some drugs are not recommended for use with Lexapro, including:
Aspirin and other NSAIDs Axert, Frova, and other triptan-based migraine treatments
A blood thinner called warfarin.
Injury & Complication Rates for Lexapro
Serious side effects, the worst of which may be fatal, have been linked to the drug Lexapro. They include, but are not necessarily limited to:
- Agitation
- Fever
- Muscle rigidity, and
- Convulsions
Suicidal Ideas and Behaviors
During the first several weeks of using Lexapro, this adverse effect frequently appears. Patients who are younger than 25 years old, have bipolar disorder (or have a family history of it), or have previously tried suicide are at the highest risk of experiencing this Lexapro side effect.
Autism and Birth Defects
Birth abnormalities that have been linked to Lexapro usage during pregnancy include heart defects, persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN), cleft palate, and respiratory distress. Lexapro use during pregnancy has also been connected to a higher incidence of autism in offspring.
According to a 2015 study, using Lexapro, particularly in the second and third trimesters, increased the risk of autism in unborn children twofold.
Damages Caused by Lexapro
Numerous medical problems have been linked to Lexapro. Heartburn is one example of a relatively modest problem. Others could be extremely dangerous and fatal. Many plaintiffs in Lexapro lawsuits have claimed birth abnormalities and suicidal conduct as injuries in their claims.
Birth Defects
Data from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study were examined in one study.
According to the study, moms who used any SSRI medication one month before starting contraception and during the first trimester of pregnancy may be at an elevated risk of having children with the following birth defects:
- Omphalocele: An organ protrusion outside the belly button, such as the liver or intestines.
- Cranial synostosis: cranial synostosis is the premature joining of one or more of the skull’s cranial sutures.
- Anencephaly: A portion of the skull, brain, or cap is missing in anencephaly.
Additionally, compared to moms who didn’t take SSRIs, those exposed to these medications after their twentieth week of pregnancy may have a six times higher risk of giving birth to a kid with persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN). PPHN infants suffer respiratory issues. An infant with PPHN may not live in particular circumstances.
However, the relationship between antidepressants and birth abnormalities is debatable; some research found no relationship at all. Because of this, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has declared that it is still too early to conclude whether SSRI usage and birth abnormalities are related.
Lexapro FDA Warnings
The FDA has taken steps to alert the public to the severe side effects associated with using Lexapro. In October 2004, when authorities forced Forest to add a black box warning to Lexapro packaging and marketing materials, the FDA issued its first warning.
The black box warning describes the risk of developing suicidal thoughts and behaviors while using Lexapro. This most severe FDA warning highlights the potential for lethal adverse effects.
The FDA again issued a Lexapro warning in 2006, this time informing the public of the medication’s connection to autism and birth abnormalities when taken by pregnant women.
Who Has Responsibility for Lexapro-Related Harms?
If you or a loved one took Lexapro and had physical harm, you might be entitled to financial compensation for your losses. When bringing a Lexapro lawsuit, it is possible to hold Lexapro’s producers, distributors, the people who wrote the prescription, the people who filled it, and more accountable for harm. The parties accountable for damages will vary depending on the specifics of your case.
Get the advice of Lexapro lawyers experienced in dangerous drug cases to help you identify who is liable for your serious health issues and associated damages.
Concerning a Lexapro Lawsuit
Drug producers and distributors are required under product liability legislation to make sure that the patients who purchase their prescription medications are safe. A manufacturer may be responsible for any damages if a medicine has a product flaw and is unreasonably harmful.
Manufacturing flaws, warning flaws, and design flaws all fall under the category of product defects.
Plaintiffs in the Lexapro lawsuit have asserted that Forest Laboratories’ birth defect and suicide risk warnings were inadequate. These plaintiffs contend that they wouldn’t have taken the medication if they were aware of the hazards.
Lawsuits Involving Lexapro & Financial Recovery
Many Lexapro victims have already filed lawsuits against Forest in an effort to hold this medicine manufacturer liable for the suffering and losses brought on by Lexapro. In most of these instances, Forest is accused of:
- Failing to inform the public of the harmful, maybe fatal side effects of Lexapro
- Misrepresenting Lexapro’s safety
- Selling Lexapro illegally for unapproved purposes, such as giving it to kids under the age of 12
Should I Contact a Lawyer?
It is still possible to sue Forest if Lexapro caused you or a loved one injury and request compensation for losses including, but not limited to:
Even while no money would ever be able to make up for the irreparable harm caused by Lexapro, these financial settlements may be the only way to save lives and bring justice.
Contact a class action lawyer through LegalMatch today.
