Wellbutrin XL Birth Defects

by Steve Fields on October 14th, 2011

Wellbutrin, also known as bupropion HCI, and was approved by the FDA in 1985. If your family has been affected by Wellbutrin XL birth defects please contact us for a free no-obligation consultation. Interestingly, the drug was pulled from the shelves a year later because of the high number of seizures that patients were experiencing. It was put back on the market in 2009 after it was determined that the seizures were dose specific and would not occur if the dosages of the drug was lowered. It has been determined however, that in addition to these problems, Wellbutrin has been linked to causing serious birth defects if taken during pregnancy.

In a study published by the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, it was determined that women given Wellbutrin during pregnancy were twice as likely to have a child with a congenital birth defect called left outflow tract defect. This defect restricts blood flow to organs in the child’s body, and must be corrected by surgery. It is estimated that 2 out of every 1,000 women who took this drug during pregnancy will have a child with this defect.

In addition to left outflow tract defect, women who have used Wellbutrin during pregnancy have reported the following side effects:

• Atrial Septal Defects
• Ventricular Septal Defects
• Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension
• Coartication of the Aorta
• Lung Defects
• Hypoplastic Left Heart
• Pulmonary Stenosis

In 1997, GlaxoSmithKline created a registry to track the outcomes of women who were pregnant and took Wellbutrin. In March of 2008, the company determined that 3.6% of the children born to mothers who took Wellbutrin during their first trimester had serious birth defects. Wellbutrin birth defects involving the heart occurred at a rate of 1.3%.

The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention have funded an on-going study called the National Birth Defects Study, which evaluated a link between Wellbutrin and Zyban and birth defects. This study measures more than 30 categories of major birth defects. This study evaluated a connection between 1997-2004, and looked at 12,383 infants. 6,853 of these children were diagnosed one out of four categories of heart birth defects. 5,763 children were diagnosed with at least one out of six categories of noncardiac defects.

If you or a loved one took Wellbutrin during pregnancy, and a child has suffered a severe birth defect as a result, it is important to seek legal guidance as there is a limited time to file a Wellbutrin lawsuit. We strongly believe that the GlaxoSmithKline should be held legally responsible for the harm their drug has caused. A Wellbutrin related birth defect can cause permanent harm to the child and a reduced quality of life. As a parent, you likely are now contending with unpaid medical bills, and emotional suffering.

Contact our office and speak with an experienced Wellbutrin lawyer to learn more about your legal options. If you decide to pursue legal action, we will take your case on contingency. This means that you do not pay a dime until we win your case. Contact us for a free consultation and a Wellbutrin XL birth defects lawyers can answer any of your questions. There currently is no national Wellbutrin lawsuits class action claim and we are representing families on an individual basis.