Lexapro: Legal Information and Research

Lexapro is the brand name for escitalopram. It’s an antidepressant medication that treats major depressive disorder (MDD). It also treats general anxiety disorder (GAD). There is no over-the-counter version of Lexapro.

Healthcare professionals also prescribe Lexapro to treat related mental health disorders, including:

• Panic disorder and panic attacks
• Social anxiety
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Bipolar disorder

Scientists have linked Lexapro and other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) to dangerous health issues. Thousands of patients have filed Lexapro lawsuits in state and federal courts.

This article describes some of the health risks this medication poses, including increased suicidality and serotonin syndrome. It also discusses Lexapro litigation and provides news, research, and legal updates.

Most medications have specific anticipated side effects. Still, drug manufacturers must make their products as reasonably safe as possible. They must also inform the medical community and the public of the known risks of their drugs.

If a manufacturer fails to do this, the court can hold it legally responsible for patient injuries. If you or your loved one suffered an injury or illness while taking Lexapro, contact a product liability attorney today to learn your legal options.

What Are SSRIs?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Lexapro in 2002. Forest Laboratories originally manufactured this drug. Actavis (now Allergan) acquired Forest Laboratories in 2014. In 2019, Allergan became part of AbbVie.

Lexapro is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). SSRIs block your body’s reabsorption of serotonin. Serotonin is the chemical that carries messages from your brain to your nerve cells.

Lexapro is one of five FDA-approved SSRIs. The other four are:

• Citalopram (Celexa)
• Paroxetine (Paxil)
• Fluoxetine (Prozac)
• Sertraline (Zoloft)

How Does Lexapro Work?

Lexapro increases serotonin levels in the brain. Serotonin carries signals from your brain to your nerve cells. By blocking the reabsorption of serotonin, Lexapro makes more of the chemical available for mood regulation.

The unique thing about SSRIs is that they only affect serotonin. They don’t impact other neurotransmitters. This allows the medication to target the part of the brain that controls mood. SSRIs decrease depressive symptoms.

Serious Risks and Complications of Lexapro

There is evidence that Lexapro causes a host of medical complications for regular patients and pregnant women. Some of these health issues are relatively minor, such as heartburn. Others may be quite serious and life-threatening.

The FDA has published specific alerts regarding the health risks of Lexapro. Other dangers associated with Lexapro use include:

• An increased risk of committing suicide or having suicidal thoughts
• Bleeding problems, especially if taken with aspirin, NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen or naproxen), or other drugs that affect bleeding
• Mania (becoming hyperactive, excitable, or elated)
• Seizures (even if Lexapro is not taken close in time with an MAOI)
• Increased risks if you’re pregnant or may become pregnant, congenital disabilities, and birth defects
• Sexual problems, including impotence (erectile dysfunction), abnormal ejaculation, difficulty in reaching orgasm, or decreased libido (sexual desire)
• Heart problems

Don’t stop taking Lexapro suddenly because doing so may result in harmful side effects. Your healthcare professional should slowly decrease your dose. This is true for all medications prescribed to treat mental health disorders.

If you stop taking the drug without your doctor’s care, you will experience withdrawal symptoms. The adverse effects of these symptoms can be severe.

Some of the other antidepressants that cause medical issues include Paxil and Celexa. These drugs, like Lexapro, are the subject of recent class-action lawsuits.

Birth Defects

Many pregnant women who took Lexapro had babies with congenital disabilities. The National Birth Defects Prevention Study found a link between pregnant women taking Lexapro and health risks in their infants.

Women who took an SSRI drug during the first trimester had an increased risk of having an infant with the following health issues:

• Omphalocele: The liver, intestines, or other organs protrude outside the belly button.
• Craniosynostosis: One or more of the skull’s cranial sutures have prematurely joined.
• Anencephaly: A part of the skull, brain, or cap is absent.

Another study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that pregnant women who took SSRI drugs after their 20th week of pregnancy were six times more likely to have a child with persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN). Infants with PPHN have trouble breathing and, in some cases, die from this condition.

Other reported birth abnormalities include:

• Cleft palate/cleft lip
• Club foot
• Spina bifida

Risk of Suicide

Lexapro and other antidepressants can lead to suicidal thoughts and behavior. For this reason, the FDA requires that Lexapro carry a black box warning about the risk of suicide.

According to the FDA’s rules, a black box warning is for drugs that may cause death or severe injury. These black box warnings involve cases where a medication carries a high risk of medical complications.

The FDA requiring this sort of warning on Lexapro sends a clear message to patients that the drug can be dangerous.

Serotonin Syndrome

The FDA issued an alert in July 2006 stating that a life-threatening condition called serotonin syndrome can occur when you take SSRIs and medicines used to treat migraine headaches, known as 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor agonists (triptans).

Signs and symptoms of serotonin syndrome include:

• Restlessness
• Hallucinations
• Loss of coordination
• Fast heartbeat
• Increased body temperature
• Rapid changes in blood pressure
• Overactive reflexes
• Diarrhea
• Coma
• Nausea
• Vomiting

Serotonin syndrome is more likely to occur when starting or increasing the dose of an SSRI or SNRI. If you take migraine headache medicines, ask your healthcare professional if your medication is a triptan.

Common Lexapro Side Effects

Common side effects of Lexapro use may include:

• Difficulty sleeping
• Nausea
• Increased sweating
• Dry mouth
• Weight gain
• Constipation
• Trouble sleeping
• Fatigue and drowsiness
• Sleepiness

For most people, these side effects will be minor. If you experience serious side effects, tell your doctor immediately.

Lexapro Lawsuit Basics

Under product liability law, drug manufacturers must ensure their medications are safe. If a drug is unreasonably dangerous or defective, they can be liable for injuries.

In the Lexapro cases, plaintiffs claimed Forest Laboratories provided defective warnings about the drug’s health risks. These plaintiffs argue that if they had known the risks, they wouldn’t have taken the drug.

Other plaintiffs have filed wrongful death actions in cases where their babies died from congenital disabilities. Plaintiffs also filed wrongful death lawsuits in cases where patients died by suicide.

Status of Lexapro Lawsuits

Most plaintiffs in the Lexapro lawsuits filed their cases in state court. But, the federal courts consolidated the claims into two separate multi-district litigation (MDL) matters. The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri oversaw these cases.

As of September 2018, the parties had settled almost all cases. The judge dismissed many claims, too. The last time there were any updates in the litigation was in November 2022.

Potential Damages in a Lexapro Lawsuit

Patients have made legal claims for injuries after taking Lexapro. If you or a family member suffers harm after taking Lexapro or any prescription medication, you may have a legal claim.

You may have a product liability claim if you believe the drug manufacturer failed to warn you of certain health risks. Or, if you think your doctor or other health care provider was negligent in not warning you of the risks, you can file a medical malpractice lawsuit.

In either case, your product liability attorney can demand damages for the following:

• Medical bills and future medical expenses
• Lost wages and lost future income
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Punitive damages

Your chances of recovering compensation depend on the specific facts of your case. Contact an experienced personal injury lawyer to discuss your case. 

Timeline of Lexapro Legal and Research Updates

Follow along below for significant legal, news, and research updates regarding Lexapro.

Oct. 15, 2004: FDA Orders Re-Labeling for Suicidality Risk

The FDA directed antidepressant drug manufacturers to change their labels. Per the FDA, drugmakers must warn of an increased risk of suicidality in children and adolescents.

Forest Laboratories added a black box warning to Lexapro’s prescribing information in response to the FDA advisory.

July 2006: Combined Use of Lexapro and Migraine Medicines Risky

There’s always a risk of adverse drug interactions when you start a new medication. The FDA issued an advisory about taking Lexapro with other antidepressants. The FDA warned against taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) with triptans.

When patients take these drugs together, it can cause a life-threatening condition called serotonin syndrome.

July 2006: Treatment Challenges of Depression in Pregnancy

In July 2006, the FDA issued an advisory about the potential risks of using Lexapro while pregnant. There was evidence that taking antidepressants while pregnant could cause persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN).

Babies born with PPHN have abnormal blood flow through the heart and lungs. They don’t get enough oxygen to their bodies. This condition can prove fatal.

June 2013: Lexapro Helps Treat Anxiety in Older Adults When Combined with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

In June 2013, researchers from the Washington University School of Medicine published a study in the American Journal of Psychiatry. The study focused on combining Lexapro with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in older adults.

Years ago, most clinicians prescribed benzodiazepines to older adults suffering from anxiety. But, these drugs can be harmful to older patients. They increase the risk of falls and cause cognitive impairment.

This study found that Lexapro and other SSRIs are effective treatments for older patients with anxiety.

November 2022: JAMA Study on Lexapro, Anxiety, and Mindfulness Meditation

In November 2022, an article about Lexapro and mindfulness-based stress reduction appeared in JAMA Psychiatry. The study found that mindfulness-based stress reduction may be as effective as taking Lexapro to reduce anxiety.

This clinical trial examined participants over eight weeks. Half the participants took Lexapro, while the other groups practiced mindfulness meditation. The researchers found that both groups experienced similar reductions in anxiety symptoms.

May 2023: New Version of Lexapro Approved

In May 2023, the FDA approved a new version of Lexapro made by AbbVie. This medication is also for patients with general anxiety disorder. This drug is also safe for pediatric patients over the age of seven.

Filing a Lexapro Lawsuit: Get Legal Help

Even before litigation against Forest Laboratories started in 2013, drug sales plummeted. This happened for two significant reasons. First, whenever people sue a drugmaker, others are afraid to take their medications. Second, the generic version of Lexapro became available in 2012.

Some patients still take Lexapro. Now that there is a black box warning on the drug, the number of lawsuits has decreased. But if you are harmed after using Lexapro or any other antidepressant, you may still have a valid claim. The best thing to do is call an attorney for legal advice.

FindLaw’s directory of product liability attorneys can get you started. Select your state or city to review contact and ratings information for local experts. Your search results will also link you to additional details about their experience with SSRI lawsuits and defective drugs. Many attorneys offer free case reviews.