Citalopram, also known by the brand name Celexa, is apart of the drug group known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), an antidepressant. However, there has been research done to investigate whether or not mothers who were taking Celexa during their pregnancy was cause of birth defects in children.
These SSRI’s are designed to increase or restore the serotonin levels in the brain to help relieve depression in patients. Celexa is used to treat patients, which included pregnant mothers, with a depressive order and also those with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Serotonin helps people to maintain happy feelings, and by preventing the re-absorption, it helps to alleviate any negative feelings a patient may have. SRRIs usually will take a couple weeks to affect a user, and it is possible that many side effects during this time may occur. Some of these include somnolence, nausea, and sexual side effects.
Research has found that patients who were using Celexa during their pregnancy had experienced numerous injuries, birth defects, and other complications. Most of these occurred during the 1st trimester. In 2006, the FDA had issued a Celexa birth defect warning on it’s labeling.
Side effects of using Celexa while pregnant may include:
- Miscarriage
- Premature birth
- Clubbed foot
- Delayed development
- Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension
- Cleft lip/palate
- Enlarged heart
- Septal heart defects
- Neural tube defects
- Craniosynostosis
- Spina bifida
Other side effects caused by Celexa in patients include:
- Insomnia
- Drowsiness
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Ejaculation problems
- Dry mouth
- Tremors
- Upper respiratory tract infections
Celexa is sold in 10mg, 20mg, and 40mg oral doses. It was designed and sold by the pharmaceutical company in Denmark, Lundbeck AG in association with Forest Laboratories, who is based out of the United States. Using the same research in combination with Forest, Lundbeck used the same research to create another antidepressant drug called escitalopram, which was patented in 2001. As of 2003, the company manufacturers had began to aggressively market Lexapro as the brand name for escitalopram, even though citalopram was available through generic buy.
However, claims were made against Forest Laboratories for illegally marketing both Celexa and Lexapro to minors, and paying off doctors to prescribe their drug. They were forced to pay $313 million dollars worth of damages under the False Claims Act. There were also many lawsuits against Celexa by patients who had claimed the drug’s label did not warn them about the possible suicidal thoughts and violent behaviors the drug may cause.
Due to all the lawsuits, the FDA had issued a black box warning on Celexa in October 2004. A “black box” warning is the most extreme type of labeling given by the FDA. The FDA recommends to only use Celexa during pregnancy if the benefits outweigh the risks it may cause.
The FDA then revised the labeling of Celexa in August 2011 to warn any patients using the drug of the risks that are associated with the medicine. Following a study of patients who were taking Celexa daily in 60mg doses, they found that there was a higher risk of heart problems in relation to the electrical activity of the heart rather than patients who had taken a placebo, or lower dosage. The revised label warned patients to not take more than 40mg of Celexa per day due to a high increased risk of potential heart problems, which could be fatal.
If you or a loved one has experienced adverse side effects after using Celexa, you may have a legal claim against the product manufactures. Get the legal help you need today, you may be eligible to gain financial compensation for any pain or suffering it may have caused.
I was taking celexa but my doctor took me off due to hallunations,anger and sucidal thoughts
I need a lawyer to help me fight celexa.
I have been off of citralporam for two months now. I feel horrible. I am not in need of an antidepressant, I am extremely light sensitive. I am going to try another month of being off this medication, but I am really sick………..what can I do?
Celexa has taken all my emotions away along with clear thinking. I seemed to be in another world and made stupid choices. Now that I am off the drug, which has taken months to overcome, I am finally realizing what Celexa has done to me.
I was on citalophram my dose was increased to 40Mg ,when that happened, I started having suicidal thoughts I started gambling uncontrollably I now owe people thousands of dollars. I lost my job, that I loved. My credit is ruined. I have been unemployed now for 6 months . I know all of this was caused from the drug. II have people that will sign an affidavit stating they could see the change in me they could tell when it happened it was right at the same time they gave me that higher dose. My whole life is ruined because of that drug!!!!! now that I’m off it I no longer have those feelings anymore but my life is in complete ruins. And I want to sue Forest Laboratories for all I can!!!!!!!!
My daughter was giving celexa and she tried to kill me it took 85 stitches to sew me up
My sodium chlorine went low. I was taken off the medication.
Then I fell twice. Resulting in a broken hip.