Baum Hedlund Aristei & Goldman changed its name to Wisner Baum in January 2023.

Lexapro Information

Lexapro Information and Birth Defects

We are no longer accepting new Lexapro birth defect cases

Miranda Lexapro Birth DefectsLexapro (escitalopram) is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant marketed by Forest Labs. Lexapro was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder in the summer of 2002. Lexapro shares the same chemical make up with another drug, its predecessor Forest manufactured SSRI antidepressant, Celexa.

Miranda's mother was not aware that taking the SSRI antidepressant during her pregnancy could potentially adversely affect her unborn child. READ MORE

Imagine the molecular configuration below printed off on a piece of paper pressed against a mirror—Celexa is made of both the paper and the mirror image, and Lexapro is just the mirror image. Or imagine two hands pressed together—Celexa is both hands and Lexapro is just the left hand.

Lexapro Molecular Configuration

Lexapro Information on Birth Defects

Scientific studies have shown that taking SSRI antidepressants similar to Lexapro and Celexa during pregnancy can pose serious risks to unborn babies. The FDA has warned about the use of SSRI antidepressants during pregnancy numerous times in the past decade. Still, these potentially dangerous drugs are widely prescribed to pregnant women in the United States.

Initially, the FDA categorized Lexapro, along with other SSRI antidepressants, as pregnancy “category C” medications, which means that animal reproduction studies have indicated elevated risk of adverse events on the animal fetus. In 2005, the FDA released a Public Health Advisory alerting the public of a possible link between the use of certain SSRI antidepressants (similar to Lexapro) during pregnancy and an increased risk of serious heart defects in newborns.

60 MinutesOn Sunday, February 19, 2012, Irving Kirsch, an associate director of the Placebo Studies Program at Harvard Medical School, who has been studying placebos for 36 years, told 60 Minutes that the difference between the perceived benefit of a placebo compared with the benefit of an antidepressant is minimal for most people. READ THE ARTICLE

In 2006, the FDA warned that Lexapro, along with other SSRI antidepressants, was associated with a higher risk of a life-threatening disorder called persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN).

Detailed Lexapro Information

Pharmaceutical: Lexapro

Manufacturer: Forest Laboratories

Generic name: escitalopram

Drug Class: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)

CAS Number: 128196-01-0

Guidelines:

Escitalopram is used to treat major depression disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. It is administered orally in tablet form. Escitalopram should never be taken with a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). Wait two weeks after taking an MAOI before starting escitalopram treatment. Likewise, wait two weeks after ending escitalopram treatment before taking an MAOI.

Contraindications:

  • Concomitant use of pimozide is contraindicated.
  • The drug is also contraindicated to patients with hypersensitivity to escitalopram.
  • Taking an MAOI during escitalopram treatment may result in serotonin syndrome.

Adverse outcomes:

  • nausea
  • sleepiness
  • weakness
  • dizziness
  • sweating
  • anxiety
  • insomnia
  • sexual dysfunction
  • shakiness
  • constipation
  • dry mouth and loss of appetite
  • abnormal bleeding
  • seizures or convulsions
  • changes in weight
  • low sodium in the blood

Serious Adverse Outcome:

Suicide and serotonin syndrome

Warnings:

  • Do not take escitalopram if you are allergic to the active or inactive ingredients in escitalopram.
  • Do not take escitalopram if you are currently taking an MAOI.
  • Wait two weeks after ending an MAOI before starting escitalopram treatment.

Medical studies:

New England Journal of Medicine Study:

First-Trimester Use of Selective Serotonin-Reuptake Inhibitors and the Risk of Birth Defects.

Pregnancy Category:

Escitalopram is a Pregnancy Category C drug. It has not been studied in pregnant women. However, animal studies have demonstrated an increased risk to a fetus if the drug is taken during pregnancy.

Contact Us Today

No Fees Unless We Win
  • Please enter your first name.
  • Please enter your last name.
  • +1
    Please enter your phone number.
    This isn't a valid phone number.
  • Please enter your email address.
    This isn't a valid email address.
  • Please enter your city.
  • Please make a selection.
  • Please make a selection.
  • Please make a selection.
  • Please enter a message.
  • Pharmaceutical Settlement $105 Million
  • Paxil Pediatric Class Action $63 Million
  • Third-Party Payer Class Action $40 Million
  • Defective Drug Class Action $28 Million
  • Celexa-Lexapro Pediatric Class Action $10 Million
  • Drug Injury $9 Million
  • Best Law Firms 2023
    Best Law Firms 2023

    A ranking in The U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” is widely regarded by both client and legal professionals as a significant honor. It is considered the most reliable, unbiased source of legal referrals anywhere.

  • The Truck Safety Coalition
    The Truck Safety Coalition

    Wisner Baum is proud to be a sponsor of The Truck Safety Coalition, a a group of caring individuals dedicated to reducing the number of deaths and injuries caused by truck-related crashes. Our support enables them to help families and save lives.

  • California Powerhouse
    California Powerhouse

    Law360 recognizes law firms that have a strong regional presence, working on important matters within their home state. “[Wisner Baum] possesses a David v. Goliath-sized slingshot while seeking justice for everyday citizens it believes were harmed or killed through corporate wrongdoing.”

  • Elite Trial Lawyers
    Elite Trial Lawyers

    NLJ and American Lawyer Media honor law firms and attorneys as Elite Trial Lawyers for their cutting-edge legal work on behalf of plaintiffs in practice areas ranging from mass torts to securities litigation.

  • Listed in Best Lawyers
    Listed in Best Lawyers

    Best Lawyers is the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession. A listing in Best Lawyers is widely regarded by both clients and legal professionals as a significant honor, conferred on a lawyer by his or her peers.

  • AV Top Ranked Law Firm
    AV Top Ranked Law Firm

    Less than one-half of one percent of firms across the nation have achieved this ranking. A firm must have a high percentage of lawyers who have achieved the prestigious AV® Preeminent rating by Martindale-Hubbell®.

  • Verdicts Hall of Fame
    Verdicts Hall of Fame

    The National Law Journal inducted Wisner Baum into the Verdicts Hall of Fame for obtaining the $2 billion landmark verdict in the Roundup cancer case of Pilliod et al. v. Monsanto. The verdict was #1 in California and #2 in the U.S. in 2019 and is #9 in American history.

  • Super Lawyers
    Super Lawyers

    Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.

  • National Trial Lawyers Top 100
    National Trial Lawyers Top 100

    The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 recognized the law firms of Wisner Baum, the Miller Firm and Audet & Partners with the 2019 Trial Team of the Year award (in the Mass Torts category) for their work in the groundbreaking case of Dewayne “Lee” Johnson v. Monsanto Company.

  • AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated
    AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated

    An AV® rating reflects an attorney who has reached the heights of professional excellence. The rating signifies the highest legal ability, and very high adherence to professional standards of conduct, ethics, reliability, and diligence.

  • Avvo 10.0 Rating
    Avvo 10.0 Rating

    Wisner Baum is proud to have all of its lawyers listed in Avvo, a legal directory connecting people in need of legal services with lawyers and connecting lawyers to lawyers. Eight of our attorneys have earned a 10.0 perfect rating with Avvo.

  • Top Jury Verdict in <br> CA and USA
    Top Jury Verdict in
    CA and USA

    TopVerdict.com ranks our $2 billion verdict in Pilliod et al. v. Monsanto as the biggest verdict in California and the second largest verdict in the U.S. in 2019. It is the ninth largest verdict in U.S. history.

  • Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers
    Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers

    Published annually, the Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers list recognizes the “best of the best” in this area of the law through nominations, research, and review by a board of their peers.

  • Product Liability Practice Group of the Year
    Product Liability Practice Group of the Year

    In 2020, Law360 honored the law firms ”behind the litigation wins and major deals that resonated throughout the legal industry.” It recognized our success in several landmark cases.

  • Top Personal Injury Jury Verdict in California
    Top Personal Injury Jury Verdict in California

    In 2018, our $289 million Johnson v. Monsanto verdict was the largest personal injury verdict in California. TopVerdict.com also ranked it #2 among all verdicts in California and #10 in the nation.

  • Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers
    Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers

    The Bar Register is the definitive guide to the most distinguished law firms in America. It includes only those select law practices that have earned the highest rating in the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory and have been designated by their colleagues as preeminent in their field.

/

Firm Reviews

What Our Clients Are Saying
  • I Can’t Imagine a Better Law Firm

    “Multiple lawyers recommended Wisner Baum to me and I have been consistently impressed with the quality of their work.”

    - Best Law Firms Survey
  • They Are About Changing the Systems...

    “Wisner Baum are not only amazing attorneys but more importantly, they are activists. They are about changing the systems which got us into trouble in the first place. They understand their role in the process of making change.”

    - Kim Witczak
  • Top Legal Minds in the Country

    “The Wisner Baum firm has some of the top legal minds in the country; they are driven, determined, trustworthy, ethical and passionate.”

    - From Best Lawyers® Best Law Firms
  • Diligent & Professional Representation

    “Thanks to your efforts I was able to recover from a tragic experience and turn my life around for the best.”

    - W.T.
  • Our Best Interest Was Always Number One on Your List

    “A special thank you to your Spanish-speaking staff for the extra effort put into this case. The language barrier was never a problem, and we are so very thankful to them. Your name holds much respect in our family.”

    - G.C. & C.C
/