A court in Philadelphia has recently awarded compensation to a family in a case where it was argued that Seroxat was responsible for the heart defect of their child.
Seroxat, known as Paxil in the US, is an antidepressant manufactured by the British pharmaceutical company, GlaxoSmithKline. It was first manufactured in the UK on 11 January 1990 and has been used by thousands of people worldwide.
Women who were prescribed Seroxat had been informed by GlaxoSmithKline, that it was safe to take during pregnancy.
In 2005, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency and the US Food and Drug Administration issued a warning that Seroxat may be linked to congenital heart defects.
The US decision is the first in a group of 600 cases, all alleging that Seroxat caused birth defects in children, when used during pregnancy. The trial has revealed that GlaxoSmithKline were receiving complaints from as early as 2001, relating to Seroxat and birth defects. There are also a number of studies that suggest that rates of congenital heart defects are higher among women taking Seroxat and other similar antidepressants.
If you are concerned that you, or a member of your family, may have been affected by taking Seroxat, we suggest that you consult your medical advisers as soon as possible.
Leigh Day & Co’s product liability team has unrivalled experience in dealing with claims relating to defective drugs and medical devices. If you would like to talk to one of our solicitors about a possible claim, please contact
Jill Paterson on 0207 650 1311 for a free initial consultation.
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