Paxil Class Action Lawsuit Over Birth Defects Certified in Canada

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Irvin Jackson

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A Canadian judge has cleared the way for a class action lawsuit over Paxil birth defects to move forward in that country against the makers of the popular antidepressant, alleging that inadequate warnings were provide about the risks associated with use of Paxil during pregnancy. 

Although GlaxoSmithKline objected to the certification of the Paxil class action, a British Columbia Supreme Court Judge ruled last week that the case may proceed.

The lawsuit was filed by Faith Gibson, who alleges that she took Paxil from 2002 through 2005, while she was pregnant. As a result of the side effects of Paxil, Gibson indicates that her daughter was born with a hole in her heart.

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An estimated six million Paxil prescriptions were written in Canada for women of child-bearing age between 1993 and 2009, but it is unclear how many women would be eligible to participate in the class action lawsuit.

Paxil (paroxetine) is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) prescribed to treat depression. Approved in 1992, it has become one of the most commonly prescribed drugs in the United States, with sales of just under $1 billion in 2008.

In December 2005, the FDA issued an alert in the United States about the risk of birth defects from Paxil, after studies showed the drug could increase the risk of the heart defects when taken during the first three months of pregnancy. At that time, the agency also required GlaxoSmithKline to update the warning label in this country to include information about the pregnancy risks with Paxil.

The company has faced hundreds of Paxil lawsuits in the United States, which were brought on behalf of children who suffered various birth defects and malformations, such as persistent pulmonary hypertension in newborns (PPHN) and other health problems. The complaints alleged that Glaxo purposefully hid test results that would have revealed the risks associated with use of Paxil during pregnancy and misled doctors.

In October 2009, a Pennsylvania jury awarded the family of a three year old child $2.5 million in compensation for birth defects from Paxil, following the first trial in the country. In 2010, it was reported that GlaxoSmithKline agreed to pay more than $1 billion to settle Paxil birth defect lawsuits.

Irvin Jackson
Written by: Irvin Jackson

Senior Legal Journalist & Contributing Editor

Irvin Jackson is a senior investigative reporter at AboutLawsuits.com with more than 30 years of experience covering mass tort litigation, environmental policy, and consumer safety. He previously served as Associate Editor at Inside the EPA and contributes original reporting on product liability lawsuits, regulatory failures, and nationwide litigation trends.

Tags: Antidepressant, Birth Defects, Canada, GlaxoSmithKline, Paxil, Paxil Birth Defect, Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension, SSRI
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1 Comments

Steve
This is regarding Paxil which I have not been able to come off of since I was put on it when I was 16 and I am now 34. The first time I came off I got electric shocks through out my body mainly my arms which stems from my brain when ever I look in any direction. As well as I have tinnitus as well from Paxil and it has never gone away and has made me very depressed and have social phobias as well as my sleep is completely ruined due to this. I have become vary suicidal over the years due to this. I can not come off of these damn things as when I do try I get the electric shocks in my brain which makes it impossible to function in my day to day life and I become vary violent and dissociated with people and life itself. I will at this point in my life do anything it takes for severance for years of mental pain as well as physical and emotional issues directly from taking this drug. I cant hold a job down and have not been able to ever due to the effects this drug has had on me. I never had any of these issues prior to taking this drug paxil. I was only put on them from having minor depression, and now this paxil has ruined relationships as well as being able to keep any job and my mentality is gone for the worst. Please contact me if you can help me out. I do not have money up front but am hoping to pay you from the law suit against the drug company that makes paxil and let this crap drug out so people can ruin there life with it while they make billions.

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