Specific Defects Caused by Paxil
More information is always good, particularly when you're trying to sort out a difficult issue. It's never easy being sick, and it can be heartbreaking to realize that the medicine you took for your illness hurt someone special to you. SSRIs such as Paxil have been linked to a number of birth defects when taken by women in the first trimester, so having a bit of information about what types of defects the medicine has been known to cause can help you sort through the confusion and consider what your next step should be.
Some of the defects caused by Paxil are visible, external matters. They can affect appearance and overall health equally. For example, some children exposed to SSRIs in the womb develop a clubbed foot. This is a malformation of the foot that can make it difficult and painful to walk, and can lead to strain on the joints of the leg and lower back. In other cases, some children developed an abnormally-shaped skull when exposed to the medicine. Beyond the difficulties this causes for appearance, an abnormal skull can be more fragile than a properly-developed one.
Other defects aren't as visible, but are no less serious for that. In some children exposed to SSRIs, the anus doesn't develop properly, and forms partially-closed or even entirely closed. The danger this creates is frighteningly obvious. Other defects include spine and brain deformities that can severely hinder their development. Still more involve the heart growing improperly with defective valves. In some cases, children are born with a terrible condition known as PPHN (persistent pulmonary hypertension). In the simplest terms, this horrifying ailment means they cannot breathe properly in the outside world. Many of these internal conditions require surgical intervention, which can be both costly and dangerous for the child.
In short, there are many defects that can be linked to in-pregnancy exposure to SSRIs like Paxil. If you have any suspicion that this might be the case in your family, there is no shame at all in looking into the matter.
