Wellbutrin is a highly popular antidepressant drug. Unfortunately, depression is fairly common in women of childbearing age, and Wellbutrin is often a physician's drug of choice. Among the most serous side effects of Wellbutrin are heart defects found in infants of women who took the drugs during the first trimester of their pregnancies, before them women are usually aware of their pregnancy.
A July 2010 scientific article published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology (July suggests that there may be an increased risk of heart defects in these newborn babies. The study identified a positive association between early pregnancy Wellbutrin use and a congenital heart problem known as a left outflow tract defect. This heart birth defect can restrict the flow of blood to the rest of the body from the heart's left chambers, and often must be surgically corrected to allow the child's main artery to function properly.
Left outflow heart defects include: VSD's/ASD's, coarctation of the aorta, hypoplastic left heart syndrome, pulmonary stenosis, aortic stenosis, teralogy of fallot, and others.
According to the study, the scientists analyzed 12,700 children born in the US between 1997 and 2004 and found that mothers who used bupropion (Wellbutrin) during their first trimester were more than twice as likely to give birth to an infant with this congenital heart problem. It also concluded that further studies are needed to confirm these results.
Wellbutrin has also been known to be used as a smoking cessation drug as well. Likewise, Zyban (which is also bupropion) was marketed as a smoking cessation drug.
If your baby was born with heart defects and you took Wellbutrin during your pregnancy, Jones Ward's lawyers may be able to help you.
Posted by Louisville, Kentucky lawyer Larry Jones. Larry can be reached at larry@jonesward.com or by using his toll-free number 1-888-KYLAW22.
