Heart Birth Defects Related to Wellbutrin Drug
In Tennessee and all over the United States, people have heard about several medications that may have severe or dangerous side effects. The drug Wellbutrin has been added to this list of medications because it has been connected to heart birth defects. If you or someone you love has taken Wellbutrin while pregnant and your child may have or has a heart birth defect as a result, then you should speak to a Tennessee Wellbutrin and personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. They will work with you and make sure you get the compensation you need for what you have been through.
According to research studies and findings, there were more than 12,700 babies born in the U.S. between 1997 to 2004. Mothers who took Wellbutrin or Bupropion in the early part of their pregnancy were at a higher risk of having babies with heart defects during this time period, than babies whose mothers did not take the medication. This defect affects blood flow from the heart’s left chamber to the rest of the body. According to the study, the most common type of this defect was a narrowing of the body’s main artery and this defect needs to be corrected with surgery.
As shown by data from 6,853 infants born with a major heart defect and 5,869 infants with no defect, those born with a heart defect had a 0.5 percent report of their mother having taken Wellbutrin before pregnancy or early in their pregnancy. Ten of those cases were left outflow tract heart defects. Guidelines from 2009 from the American Psychiatric Association and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists point out that psychotherapy may be a better form of treatment for depression in pregnant women with mild depression. However, pregnant women with more severe depression may need to continue medication.
Recent reports may show that antidepressant medicines may disrupt breast cancer treatments which can cause patients to get the cancer again and die from it. Also, in October, it was found that women taking some antidepressants during their pregnancy may be at a greater risk of having premature birth and having more babies in the intensive care unit.
Tennessee residents and people all over the United States expect that when we take medication, it will help us to feel better. Unfortunately, some medications such as Wellbutrin may come with dangerous and potentially life-threatening side effects. If you or someone you know has taken Wellbutrin while pregnant and your baby was born with a heart birth defect, then we strongly encourage you to contact one of our caring and knowledgeable Tennessee Wellbutrin and personal injury attorneys immediately. We will work with you and see to it that you receive the compensation you deserve for what you have suffered.
Contact us online or call us at 800.705.2121 to set up a FREE consultation to discuss your legal options
Author Bio
Jim Higgins, founder of the Higgins Firm, is a seasoned personal injury attorney with deep roots in Nashville, Tennessee. A 4th generation Nashvillian, Jim carries on the legal legacy of his father, a judge for over 30 years. After graduating from the University of Memphis School of Law, Jim’s career began on the other side of the courtroom, defending insurance companies and learning their tactics for minimizing settlements. However, he soon realized his true calling was fighting for the rights of the injured, and for the past several years, he has exclusively represented plaintiffs in personal injury cases.
Since then, his dedication and skill have earned him membership in the prestigious Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an organization limited to attorneys who have secured million and multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for their clients. Licensed to practice in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Georgia, Jim focuses on personal injury, product liability, medical malpractice, and workers’ compensation cases. His exceptional work has been recognized by his peers, earning him a spot on the Super Lawyers list from 2021 to 2024, a distinction awarded to only a select group of accomplished attorneys in each state.
