Antidepressant Medication Attorneys

If you are interested in learning more about Antidepressant lawsuits speaking with an antidepressant attorney is a good idea.

Antidepressant drugs are among the most commonly prescribed medicines in the United States. Although they can be highly effective as mood elevators, users can also run the increased risk of pregnancy birth defects, suicide, bone fractures, heart attack and dangerous interactions with other drugs.

Today’s most frequently prescribed antidepressants belong to a group known as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs). SSRIs work to elevate the user’s mood by increasing the amounts of serotonin in the brain. (Serotonin is a chemical used to transmit signals between neurons.) These are marketed under brands such as Zoloft, Paxil, Wellbutrin, Celexa and Lexapro.

Big Business

An antidepressant lawyer may be able to evaluate your case to determine if you have a viable antidepressant lawsuit.

In December 2005, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a public health advisory for the antidepressant Paxil when used by pregnant women during the first trimester of pregnancy. In two separate studies, women who used Paxil early in their pregnancies had a greater risk of delivering an infant born with cardiac defects.

As a result of the FDA warning, GlaxoSmithKline, the manufacturer of Paxil, changed the drug’s black box label warning from a C category to D category, showing that a risk of a birth defect to the fetus has been demonstrated.

In a controversial 2006 study conducted at Duke University, questions were raised about whether antidepressants are the right treatment for heart patients with depression. The study showed that heart patients taking antidepressants had a 55% higher risk of dying within three years.

While researchers admit they do not fully understand the physiological effect of antidepressants on patients with heart disease, it was suggested that other treatments, such as exercise, should play stronger roles in treating depression in heart patients.

If you have lost a loved one to reasons that you believe are related to taking antidepressant drugs let whocanisue.com find a pharmaceutical drug attorney to help you with your legal claim.

In May 2006, the FDA ordered manufacturers of 10 frequently prescribed antidepressants (Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Luvox, Celexa, Lexapro, Effexor, Wellbutrin, Serzone and Remeron) to include warnings on their product labels about an increased risk of deepening depression and suicide in children using these drugs.

In 2003, it was estimated that nearly 10 million antidepressant prescriptions were written for children and teens under age 18. These prescriptions can cause long lasting side effects.

In July 2006, the FDA issued a public health advisory concerning the use of SSRIs and certain medicines used to treat migraine headaches. Their combined use can lead to a life-threatening condition called serotonin syndrome, they said. If a doctor has ignored this fact, personal injury attorneys or antidepressant litigation attorneys will be able to help you seek justice.

Despite the many black box warnings, it is estimated that close to 30 million Americans currently take antidepressant medications to elevate their moods.

So just how just popular are antidepressants? In 2007, among the top-selling drugs in this country: Zoloft was prescribed over 29 million times; Lexapro was prescribed over 27 million times; Prozac was prescribed over 22 million times; Wellbutrin (along with Budeprion and Zyban) were prescribed over 20 million times; Paxil was prescribed over 18 million times and Celexa was prescribed more than 16 million times.

Buyer Beware

Amid growing fears over safety concerns regarding antidepressant use, the FDA now requires all antidepressant drug manufacturers to place “black box” warnings on their labels. A black box alert is the government’s strongest safety warning. It advises doctors, pharmacists and patients of the various known risks presented by that particular drug.

If you, or a loved one, have experienced serious complications as a result of using antidepressants like Celexa or Lexapro, you should consult with a antidepressant drug lawyer right away. An antidepressant lawyer or pharmaceutical attorney can advise you on pursuing an antidepressant lawsuit and get you the compensation you deserve for your harm.

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