A number of popular prescription medications taken during pregnancy may cause birth defects, including congenital heart defects such as Pulmonary Stenosis, in which the pulmonary valve is too narrow. If untreated, the condition can lead to heart failure and infant death. Drugs linked to pulmonary stenosis include antidepressants such as Paxil, Prozac and Zoloft, as well as epilepsy medications like Depakote and Depakene.

Pulmonary Stenosis Lawsuit Review: If you or somebody you know has a child that has been diagnosed with Pulmonary Stenosis after being exposed to an anti-depressant medication in the womb, you should contact our lawyers immediately. Consultations are always free. Please use our confidential email contact form or call toll free 24 hrs/day by dialing (866) 223-3784.

Which drugs have been linked to Pulmonary Stenosis?

The following prescription medications have been linked to birth defects such as Pulmonary Stenosis:

  • Paxil (paroxetine)
  • Zoloft (sertraline)
  • Celexa (citalopram)
  • Prozac (fluoxetine)
  • Lexapro (escitalopram)
  • Symbyax (fluoxetine and olanzapine)
  • Wellbutrin (bupropion)
  • Effexor (venlafaxine)

What is Pulmonary Stenosis?

Pulmonary Stenosis is a heart valve disorder that affects the pulmonary valve. It is usually a congenital heart defect (present at birth), in which the pulmonary valve does not open properly, and therefore does not allow enough blood to flow into the lungs to become oxygenated. It is a rare birth defect that occurs in about one out of 10,000 live births.

What is the Pulmonary Valve? It is a valve in the heart that acts like a one-way-door that allows blood to flow from the right ventricle (a chamber of the heart) into the pulmonary artery (the artery that carries blood to the lungs, where it becomes oxygenated).

Before birth, Pulmonary Stenosis is not life-threatening. The mother’s placenta provides oxygen to the infant. After birth, the infant’s lungs must provide oxygen. However, because the pulmonary valve does not open fully, less blood reaches the infant’s lungs, and the infant becomes oxygen-deprived. In severe cases, this lack of oxygen can be life-threatening, causing heart failure.

Signs & Symptoms of Pulmonary Stenosis

Pulmonary Stenosis may be symptomless, if the narrowing is not severe. In these cases, a person may not know that they have this heart defect until it worsens with age, exercise, or activity. A health care provider will usually diagnose Pulmonary Stenosis during a routine examination; while listening to the heart, they may hear a heart “murmur” or other sounds that indicate an abnormality.

In infants, serious cases of Pulmonary Stenosis become obvious within the first few hours of life. This syndrome is sometimes referred to as “blue-baby syndrome.” Due to the lack of oxygenated blood, the baby’s skin will become blue, pale, or cool to the touch. This is called cyanosis.

Symptoms of Pulmonary Stenosis include:

  • Abdominal distention
  • Bluish coloration of the skin, lips, nails, or body (cyanosis)
  • Chest pain
  • Fainting
  • Fatigue
  • Poor weight gain or failure to thrive
  • Shortness of breath
  • Sudden death

What treatments are available?

If the disorder is mild, treatment may not be required. Less severe cases may be treated with medications, such as blood thinners or medications to help the heart beat stronger.

The initial treatment for infants is usually a Balloon atrial septostomy, in which a special catheter with a balloon in the tip is used to create an opening inside the heart, which allows blood to mix between the right and left atrium. This intervention precedes more serious surgeries. Ultimately, heart surgery will be required to permanently improve blood flow to the lungs. Your pediatric cardiologist will determine if surgery can improve the existing valve, or if a replacement valve is necessary.

Is there a time limit in filing a Pulmonary Stenosis birth defect lawsuit?

Although we encourage all our potential clients to take great care in selecting their Pulmonary Stenosis lawyer, it is important that you understand that time is of the essence. The applicable statute of limitations in your state may time bar your claim. Furthermore, we are unable to provide you with legal advice without first evaluating your potential case. Accordingly, please take the time now to contact us by using the confidential email contact form below or by calling us toll free 24 hrs/day by dialing (866) 223-3784.

We hope we will be able to assist you with your potential Pulmonary Stenosis birth defect lawsuit and look forward to speaking with you.


Attention Lawyers:  Schmidt & Clark, LLP considers a referral from another lawyer to be one of the greatest compliments. Our law firm has built a reputation for success and accepts a number of case referrals on a regular basis. We do not publish prior verdicts or settlements on our website. If you would like to refer us a case or for us to send you a profile of prior award judgments or average referral fees, please fill out the form below.