The use of Paxil as an antidepressant for adults over the age of 18 has been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration since late 1992. Since then it has quickly become one of the world’s most prescribed drugs for its attended use. There have been however, recent studies that show that Paxil has the potential cause Paxil birth defects which have given rise to Paxil concerns.

One of the more common birth defects that have been seen to be potentially caused by Paxil is Cleft Lip or Cleft Palate.  A cleft lip can be described as a physical split or separation of the two sides of the upper lip and appears as a narrow opening or gap in the skin of the upper lip. This type of separation can usually extend beyond the base of the nose and includes the bones of the upper jaw and/or upper gum. A cleft palate is a split or opening in the roof of the mouth. A cleft palate can involve the hard palate (the bony front portion of the roof of the mouth), and/or the soft palate (the soft back portion of the roof of the mouth).

There can be several problems that a child can face if he or she is born with either a cleft lip or palate.  The first problem would have to do with feeding, since normally the palate prevents food and liquids from entering the nose. The baby with an un-repaired cleft palate has difficulty sucking on a regular nipple and will usually require a special nipple and bottle along with proper positioning in order to feed. By learning some techniques about proper handling will ease the child’s eating habits.

Another challenge can potentially be dental problems. The problems range include: They may have a defect in the gums or alveolar ridge (the bone that supports the teeth). Any defects that occur near  the alveolar ridge can displace, tip, or rotate permanent teeth, or prevent permanent teeth from coming in properly.

Some of the potential Paxil Birth Defects that Paxil has been known to cause include cleft palate and cleft lip.  If you are thinking about starting Paxil for your signs and symptoms of depression, consult with your doctor first.

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