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Paxil Settlement

5/2/2011.

Paxil Settlement

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Paxil settlement . Paxil is an antidepressant that falls into the category of a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI). Paxil is usually used to treat major depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and several different anxiety disorders. The medication is meant to help prevent suicidal thoughts and behaviors and provide other important benefits. The problem however is that some people show negative side effects from Paxil. The side effects of Paxil have led to Paxil lawsuits.
One Paxil lawsuit took place in Pennsylvania. A Pennsylvania attorney found that the manufacturer of Paxil (Glaxo, Smith, & Kline) was liable for $2.5 million to the family of a child who was born with a Paxil birth defect after her mother took the antidepressant Paxil while pregnant. The jury found that the manufacturer failed to properly warn physicians and consumers about the adverse effects of Paxil. In other words, the jury found in favor of the boy’s family. The child unfortunately suffers from persistent pulmonary hypertension which is a life-threatening disorder that constricts arteries to the lungs and therefore limits the amount of oxygen into the bloodstream.
Of the more than 600 lawsuits against Glaxo, this case was the first Paxil birth defect lawsuit to go to trial. According to the complaint, the child’s mother took Paxil as prescribed by her doctor during her pregnancy. The child suffered from a direct Paxil side effect. The manufacturer disagrees with the verdict and stated that they would appeal.
There seem to be serious potential risks to taking Paxil while pregnant. There are many lawsuits against Paxil because of the negative side effects that are possible. If you or someone you know has a baby who was born with a birth defect because of using Paxil during pregnancy, you should contact a Paxil birth defects attorney. No child should have to suffer from a heart defect as a result of a medication taken during pregnancy. You should consult your physician and speak in detail regarding Paxil’s potential risks. You should also consider switching to a different antidepressant if these medications are absolutely necessary for you to take.

Risk of Birth Defects with Paxil

5/2/2011.

Risk of Birth Defects with Paxil

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Birth defects from Paxil have been shown to be a possibility from previous studies. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a Paxil warning alerting health care professionals and patients about the increased risk for birth defects. The FDA Paxil warning is meant to inform people of the elevated risks when women take the drug during the first three months of their pregnancy, increasing the risk for their unborn child to be born with heart defects. Paxil during pregnancy is not safe, and should be discussed in great detail with a physician before deciding to take the medication. Paxil is often used to treat depression and several other psychiatric disorders. If a women however is already taking Paxil and then becomes pregnant, it is not safe to completely discontinue taking the medication. A woman could relapse back into depression.
The FDA warning for Paxil users advises health care professionals to discuss the risks of birth defects with patients taking Paxil who are currently planning to become pregnant or who are in the beginning stages of their pregnancy. It is recommended that health care professionals consider discontinuing Paxil and switch to another type of antidepressant in these patients. As said before, for some women who have already been taking Paxil, the benefits of continuing may be greater than the potential side effects of Paxil on the fetus. Paxil side effects can be potentially harmful to the fetus, however, it is important to first talk to a physician before taking Paxil or before discontinuing the use of Paxil.
Results from two earlier studies indicate that women who took Paxil during their first trimester of pregnancy were about one and a half to two times as likely to have a child with a Paxil birth defect compared to women who received other types of antidepressants or even women in the general population. Most of the Paxil birth defects were heart defects such as atrial and ventricular septal defects (holes in the walls of the heart chambers). Generally, these defects range in severity from minor ones that may resolve without treatment to those that are more serious and may need to be repaired by surgery.
Based on the results, the manufacturer has changed the pregnancy category to a stronger warning. If your child has been born with a heart defect as a result of Paxil, you should contact a Paxil birth defect lawyer.

Possible detrimental side effects of Paxil

5/2/2011.

Possible detrimental side effects of Paxil

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Paxil danger. As many are aware of, Paxil is an antidepressant drug; specifically it falls into a group of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. An imbalance of serotonin (a natural substance in the brain that helps to improve certain mood problems) can cause feelings of depression and Paxil works to restore the serotonin balance. While Paxil helps to improve the symptoms of depression, there is a possibility for Paxil side effects. The negative side effects of Paxil should be discussed with your physician before you begin taking the recommended dosage. Always consult a doctor before taking medication.
A side effect of Paxil that definitely warrants concern is if you develop suicidal thoughts and behaviors. In addition, other side effects from Paxil include changes in your mood or behavior, anxiety and/or panic attacks, change in sleeping patterns, mania (mental and/or physical hyperactivity), impulsivity, irritability, agitation, hostility and even aggressiveness. With any of these side effects, it is important to contact your doctor immediately. There are also some adverse effects of Paxil that require immediate medical attention. You will need to get emergency medical help if you show any signs of an allergic reaction. For example, if you begin to notice a skin rash or hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of your face, swelling of your lips, or swelling of the tongue or throat, contact a doctor immediately.
There are also some more serious side effects to Paxil. If while on Paxil, you experience bruising or bleeding, very stiff (rigid) muscles, high fever, sweating, fast or uneven heartbeats, tremors, overactive reflexes, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, feeling unsteady, loss of coordination, headache, trouble concentrating, memory problems, weakness, confusion, hallucinations, fainting, seizure, or shallow breathing, you should call your doctor. While these Paxil bad side effects do seem to be numerous, it has helped some people with depression. As with any drug, you should contact your physician before starting the drug regimen. If you feel as though your symptoms have caused you pain and you have suffered as a result of taking Paxil, you should contact a Paxil lawyer.

Side Effects of Paxil

5/2/2011.

Side Effects of Paxil

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Paxil and side effects. Paxil, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), is an antidepressant that is used to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Before taking Paxil, let your doctor know if you are allergic to any drugs or if you have liver or kidney disease, a bleeding or blood clotting disorder, seizures or epilepsy, bipolar disorder (also known as manic depression), or a history of drug abuse or suicidal thoughts. Like any other drug, there is important information about the possible side effects of Paxil that should be taken into consideration before beginning the drug. Paxil bad side effects include a possibility for increased thoughts of suicide when first beginning the antidepressant. This possibility is increased even more if you are younger than 24 years old. You will need to visit a doctor regularly for at least the first twelve weeks of treatment.
Of course, increased suicidal thoughts and behavior are side effects that you definitely want to prevent. However, if you experience any of the other side effects from Paxil, contact a doctor immediately. They are as follows: mood or behavior changes, increased anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), or more depressed than when first starting the medication. Unfortunately, there are even more side effects to Paxil. Paxil has the possibility to cause heart defects and serious, life-threatening lung problems in newborn babies whose mothers take the medication during pregnancy. So, taking Paxil while pregnant should definitely be strongly considered before starting the medication.
There is the potential for a Paxil birth defect if a pregnant woman takes Paxil during pregnancy. Because of this possibility, there are Paxil birth defects attorneys that can make a claim and file a Paxil birth defect lawsuit on your behalf. If you become pregnant while taking Paxil, contact your doctor immediately. You will need to discuss the benefits and the risks of taking Paxil while pregnant. If you become pregnant, do not immediately stop taking the medication because you may slip back into your cycle of depression.

Wisconsin Woman Receives $18.2 Million in Birth Injury Case

(April 28, 2011) Courtesy PhotoA birth injury
A settlement in the amount of $ 18.2 million dollars was awarded to a Wisconsin woman by the Federal government. The former Sinai-Samaritan Hospital in Milwaukee (which is federally funded) was found negligent in the birth injury case filed against them. According to the plaintiff, it was due to the “horrific care” that she received from the hospital that led her daughter to suffer permanent and severe brain damage.

The plaintiff claims that when she went to the former Sinai-Samaritan Hospital to deliver her baby, her risk of complications was not addressed, nor was she referred to a specialist despite the fact that she had been diagnosed with gestational diabetes and had a documented history of delivering above average weight babies. Instead, she was attended by a family practice doctor as well as midwives. Had her pre-registration notes been more closely read, she may have received the proper medical attention that she needed and avoided the birth injury that her daughter sustained.

In addition to not being properly directed to the correct personnel, according to testimony, she was left unattended for duration of over 12 hours even though she was already dilated. During the delivery process, the baby became lodged for over 20 minutes in the mother’s birth canal and it was due to the lack of oxygen during this traumatic time that the birth injuries
occurred. The majority of the $18.2 million that was awarded to the plaintiff will go to aiding in future medical costs that will surely incur with her 10 year old daughter’s birth injuries.

A trauma to the baby that occurs during the birth process is considered to be a birth injury. This injury is usually caused by a tremendous amount of pressure and stress being placed upon the baby while they are passing through the birth canal and can be caused by several factors. Such factors can include: premature birth, prolonged labor, a breech delivery and doctor’s procedures.

If your child has sustained a birth injury and you feel that it could have been prevented, please contact a birth injury attorney
for a consultation to see if you may have a case.

A Birth Injury Lawyer May Be Able to Help with Cerebral Palsy Treatment Costs

Children who suffer from a birth injury like cerebral palsy face a manageable but difficult life ahead of them – a life that will be filled with doctor visits and rehabilitation appointments for an illness that oftentimes was caused by doctor error.

While cerebral palsy treatments can be difficult at times, getting the best help for your child could benefit them greatly. In order to pay for these effective – yet expensive – working with a Texas cerebral palsy attorney to pursue a monetary settlement from the doctors who caused your child’s ailment may help you afford them.

A recent report from a UK newspaper profiled Wiktoria Mucha, a 9-year-old born with cerebral palsy that limited her ability to move. Throughout her life, she has undergone special treatment four days a week, attended a swimming club, and rode a specially made tricycle in order to help improve her ability to move.

However, with her needs changing as she continues to grow, Wictoria’s parents are attempting to raise $58,000 to fly to the United States and undergo selective dorsal rhizotomy surgery – a rare surgery that reduces spasticity in the body by cutting certain nerves connecting muscles with the spinal cord.

“We can see that our daughter is extremely tired and resigned. She is constantly asking us why other children can walk and she can’t,” said Tomasz Mucha, Wiktoria’s father, according to the Courier. “…Time is important to her as she is a tall girl and she’s growing quickly, so her muscles are becoming more and more tense, which causes deformation of her spine, hips and bones.”

The St. Louis Children’s Hospital – one of the few hospitals that can perform the procedure – explain the benefits of the surgery compared to other treatments include a reduced risk of spinal deformities later in life, reduced hip flexor spasticity, less intense back pain, and earlier resumption of physical therapies and activities.

Regardless of how effective the procedure may be, the same medical and travel costs that the Muchas are currently struggling to raise may initially deter some Texas residents who have a child with cerebral palsy, but do not have the immediate financial means available. However, if your child’s cerebral palsy can be traced to a birth injury caused by a doctor’s error, you may be able to bring a lawsuit and end up with a significant monetary settlement to pay for any of their child’s medical costs.  Contact a Texas cerebral palsy lawyer today and learn more about pursuing a birth injury lawsuit and an eventual settlement.

Legal Options in Texas if Your Child Suffers from a Birth Injury

4/20/11

Giving birth to an injured baby following an otherwise normal pregnancy can be a very confusing situation for Texas families. Those who think their child has been affected by a birth injury may have questions for doctors that are not adequately answered as well, which only makes the situation more confounding.

The fact is, birth injuries can sometimes be the result of negligence on the part of the doctors and health care providers who care for a woman during her pregnancy, labor, and delivery. Medical negligence is defined as when a medical provider strays from accepted practices and harms the patient as a result.

If your child has suffered a birth injury that was caused by medical negligence, you may be wondering about how to proceed with a lawsuit and contacting a Texas birth injury attorney. Your questions may include:

  • What is the time commitment involved?
  • How will I find an attorney in Texas that will take my case?
  • Will my child be involved in the legal process?
  • Will pursuing a medical negligence lawsuit have any implications on my child’s care?

These questions, and the answers, will likely vary based on your child’s specific case and the extent he or she was injured. While a birth injury lawsuit may seem like a daunting and confusing process, a knowledgeable birth injury lawyer will provide guidance for you and your family as the process moves forward.

If your child, or the child of someone you know, has suffered a birth injury, it may have been due to preventable errors. Call a Nurse Case Manager at American Law Partners so you can determine the cause of your child’s birth injury. If medical negligence is suspected, contacting one of our experienced Texas birth injury lawyers will help you launch a case to get the justice and compensation you and your family deserve.