FDA Lays Out New Guidelines for Information on Drug Labels

A medication may be deemed safe for human consumption,  but if you’re a woman who is or may become pregnant, that drug may pose a serious health threat to your unborn child.

Researchers have gathered evidence that shows taking certain mood-altering drugs—known as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)— while pregnant can cause a child to be born with an antidepressant birth defect called persistent pulmonary hypertension.

Being aware of how a drug may interact with the child you’re carrying is important, considering estimates show as many as 3 in 5 women will regularly take medication during pregnancy; however, the labeling of medications can make it difficult to decipher which drugs are safe and which are dangerous.

Federal officials are addressing this issue by revamping what information is displayed on a drug’s label. CBS News reports that beginning next summer the labels of medications must carry any and all available information about the effects a drug could have on a woman or child during pregnancy or while nursing. This must include whether testing was conducted on human or animal subjects.

In the meantime, the drug injury lawyers at Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos & Newlin encourage women to discuss any questions they may have about a medication that’s been prescribed to them with their doctor or pharmacist. If you or your child have suffered a drug injury that was caused by a medication you were given, you may want to speak with an attorney about your potential legal rights to compensation. Our team is available to discuss your case anytime by calling (800) 477-7315.