Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a type of congenital heart defect (present at birth) that primarily affects the major arteries responsible for the transportation of oxygen-rich blood throughout the body. This serious condition is present in around 2 per 1,000 births, which means that it is a fairly common defect. However, current data suggests that Lexapro use during pregnancy potentially increases the frequency of this heart birth defect. If your infant was born with PDA (patent ductus arteriosus) and you ingested Lexapro during any portion of your pregnancy, you should contact the Willis Law Firm for a confidential case evaluation free of charge.

Lexapro Patent Ductus Arteriosus Side Effects (PDA Side Effects)

Lexapro is one of several SSRI antidepressant medications prescribed to treat depression, anxiety, and several other conditions. A popular treatment option, Lexapro has been prescribed by doctors to more than 18 million American adults since its inception in 2002. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), like Lexapro, work by correcting chemical imbalances in the brain that can adversely affect mood. Other SSRIs include Zoloft, Paxil, Celexa, and Prozac.

Unfortunately, the composition of Lexapro may also be accountable for an elevated risk of a cornucopia of congenital heart defects, one of which being Patent Ductus Arteriosus. In summation, patent ductus arteriosus has been studied by medical researchers and considered a potential result of Lexapro taken during fetal development. This is because the chemical composition of Lexapro (Escitalopram) allows it to cross through the placenta during a pregnancy, which can adversely affect a developing child.

What is Patent Ductus Arteriosus?

The composition of a normal heart consists of the the ductus arteriosus linking the aorta with the pulmonary artery. Following birth, the lungs should be exposed to air, and the ductus arteriosus should seal. Conversely, in babies with PDA, the ductus arteriosus does not close. The existence of an opening makes it possible for the blood from the aorta (oxygen rich) to combine with blood from the pulmonary artery (lacking oxygen). As a result, deoxygenated blood saturates and overwhelms oxygenated blood that is intended for other regions of the body. The reduction of oxygen in the bloodstream is not capable of meeting the body’s functional necessities. Consequently, the lack of oxygen can be debilitating and manifest in a variety of adverse symptoms.

Patent Ductus Arteriosus Symptoms

In many cases, patent ductus arteriosus only results in a non-detrimental heart murmur. On the other hand, symptoms can potentially excalet in the event of extra blood circulating into the lungs. The heart can also become greatly overstrained. These symptoms and complications are some of the most frequently exhibited among patent ductus arteriosus cases:

• Rapid breathing
• Breathlessness/Trouble Breathing
• Abnormal feeding habits (Inability to eat enough)
• Low Weight
• Fatigue
• Sweatiness/Clamminess
• Pulmonary artery hypertension
• Blue tint to skin and lips
• Recurrent lung infection
• Failure of the Heart
• Infective Endocarditis

Lexapro Patent Ductus Arteriosus Lawsuit: Speak to an Attorney

If your child was born with a congenital heart defect or other birth defect and the mother took Lexapro (or other SSRI) during the pregnancy, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. Call the Willis Law Firm today to have your potential Lexapro Lawsuit evaluated free of charge and completely confidentially.