Effexor

Effexor® (venlafaxine HCl)

 

Kane Legal is reviewing the following birth defect injuries related to Effexor®:

  • Persistent pulmonary hypertension of a newborn
  • Abdominal defects
  • Brain defects
  • Heart defects

 

If you or a loved one has taken Effexor® and has experienced delivering a child with a serious birth defect, please call KANE LEGAL for a free consultation.

 

Effexor® (known generically as venlafaxine HCl) is a selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (commonly named an SNRI) which is used alone or in combination with other medications as an antidepressant.  It is very similar to those antidepressants belonging to the SSRI class.  Marketed by Wyeth Laboratories, Effexor® was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1993 for depression and later on gained FDA approval for various anxiety disorders.

 

Common side effects of Effexor® include:

  • Nausea, diarrhea
  • Sleep problems
  • Agitation
  • Drowsiness
  • Sexual dysfunction

 

Less common, but more serious side effects of Effexor® include:

  • Increased thoughts of suicide or attempts
  • Mania
  • Seizure s

 

Recent studies have shown that use of Effexor during pregnancy increases the risk of birth defects by up to six times.  Birth defects associated with its use include:

  • Persistent  pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN)
  • Heart defects
  • Lung defects

 

PPHN is a very serious birth defect.  A child suffering from PPHN may experience shock, heart failure, brain hemorrhage, seizers, kidney failure, organ damage and even death.  For those infants who do survive PPHN, they may experience long-term breathing difficulties, seizures and developmental disorders and hearing loss.

 

Other studies have shown that mothers who took antidepressants during pregnancy gave birth to children who experienced withdrawal symptoms such as seizures, tremors, gastrointestinal problems and sleep disturbances.

 

If you are a loved one is one of the mothers who took Effexor® while pregnant and whose child was born with a serious birth defect, contact KANE LEGAL today for a free consultation.  At KANE LEGAL, we will help you file a lawsuit that can compensate all medical expenses needed to treat your child’s condition.