The serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) antidepressant medication Effexor (generic Venlafaxine) has been prescribed to over 17 million patients since it arrived on the market in the mid-90s. Effexor has been a popular treatment choice for both depression and anxiety because it aims to augment levels of both serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain to positively affect mood disorders. Unfortunately, current medical research has recently demonstrated a link between taking Effexor while pregnant and the occurrence of a range of congenital defects, including upper and lower limb defects. If your child was born with a limb defect following exposure to Effexor, you may want to consider an Effexor lawsuit in order to be potentially compensated for the financial and emotional suffering that comes with this type of birth injury. Other medications being investigated for birth defects include: Zoloft, Paxil, Celexa, Prozac, and Lexapro.
About Effexor Limb Defects
A limb defect refers to when part (or all) of either an arm or leg fails to finish developing during pregnancy. Another name for this birth defect is “limb reduction,” because the size of the limb is “reduced” in comparison with a normally formed arm or leg. Although limb reductions already occur in between 2 and 4 of every 10,000 babies born in the United States, when a pregnant woman takes Effexor, the chance of a limb defect occurring is doubled. Sometimes a baby is born with both an upper (arm) and lower (leg) limb defect. The difficulties and complications that an Effexor Limb Defect can result in include:
- Developmental/Motor skills difficulty
- Inability to perform daily activities
- Limitations with activities, and some movements
- Emotional/Social problems due to abnormal physical appearance
Effexor Limb Defects Treatments
In treating Effexor limb defects, the objective is to give the patient a limb that is as functional and aesthetically pleasing as possible. The specific course of treatment for an Effexor limb defect depends largely upon the severity and location of the defect; the doctor will also base treatment on the age of the child and his/her tolerance for different medications and therapies. Common limb reduction treatments include: artificial limbs, surgery, orthotics, and physical/occupational therapy.
File a Limb Defect Lawsuit: Talk to an Effexor Lawyer
If your child was born with a limb defect (upper or lower) following exposure to an antidepressant medication during fetal development, call the Willis Law Firm today. You and your family may have a potential Effexor birth defect lawsuit, and the talented and qualified team at our firm can help you decide if a lawsuit is the right course of action for you. When you call, we will provide a free antidepressant birth defect consultation with no further obligation. Should you choose to file a lawsuit, you will not be billed any legal fees unless a successful recovery is obtained. Call us today.