Wellbutrin Birth Defect Lawyers
Wellbutrin birth defects lawyers at Arentz Law Group, P.C. are currently pursuing dangerous drug lawsuits in all 50 states on behalf of families who have suffered as a result of birth defects that may be attributed to use of Wellbutrin during pregnancy. Wellbutrin is one of the most commonly prescribed antidepressants in the United States, but it has been linked to a higher-than-average rate of serious congenital birth defects when taken during pregnancy. If a child in your life was born with a birth defect after the mother used Wellbutrin during pregnancy, you could be entitled to substantial compensation for your damages. To learn more about Wellbutrin birth defect lawsuits, contact an experienced pharmaceutical product liability lawyer.
What is Wellbutrin?
Approved by the FDA in 1985 for the treatment of major depressive disorder, Wellbutrin (bupropion hydrochloride) is also used in an off-label capacity to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and seasonal affective disorder. The active ingredient in Wellbutrin, bupropion, is also used to help people stop smoking. While many commonly prescribed antidepressants fall into the SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) family, Wellbutrin is different in that it is a non-tricyclic antidepressant. Wellbutrin prevents the reuptake of the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine to help regulate stress levels in the brain.
Wellbutrin Birth Defects
A study published in 2010 in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology concluded that babies exposed to Wellbutrin during the first trimester of pregnancy face double the risk for congenital heart defects, which may include:
- Atrial Septal Defects (ASD) – also known as ‘hole in the heart’ defects
- Ventral or Ventricular Septal Defects (VSD) – hole in the heart wall
- Valve Problems – malformed or stuck and won’t close
- Tricuspid Valve (Ebstein’s Anomaly)
- Mitral Valve
- Transposition of the Great Arteries / Vessels
- Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF)
- Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS)
- Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome (HRHS)
- Tricuspid Atresia
- Aortic Stenosis
- Heart murmur
- Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)
- Coarctation of the Aorta
- Truncus Arteriosus
- Tricuspid Valve Stenosis
In addition to Wellbutrin heart defects, other Wellbutrin birth defects may include:
- Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN)
- Pulmonary Stenosis
- Craniosynostosis – cranial skull defect
- Omphalocele – abdominal wall defect
- Gastroschisis – abdominal wall defect
- Esophageal Stenosis
- Club Foot
- Anal Atresia
- Pulmonary Atresia
Contact a Wellbutrin Birth Defect Lawyer
Families of children born with birth defects caused by use of Wellbutrin during pregnancy may be entitled to significant compensation for their physical, emotional, and financial damages. If your child was born with a birth defect that you feel may have been brought about by exposure to Wellbutrin in the womb, we encourage you to contact a Wellbutrin lawyer to learn more about your rights and about Wellbutrin birth defect lawsuits.