Zoloft Linked to Birth Defects
Zoloft is a frequently prescribed antidepressant that has been linked to birth defects in infants. Although this danger has been known for years, the manufacturer of Zoloft has refused to adequately warn women who are pregnant or who may become pregnant of this risk.
Because of this, a woman who has been taking Zoloft and whose child is born with a birth defect may have the right to hold the manufacturer responsible. Although a lawsuit will not begin to end suffering or restore health, it can pay for medical expenses, compensate for lost income or provide a better quality of life for the injured child. If taking Zoloft has hurt you or someone you love, contact an experienced Zoloft attorney at Janet, Jenner & Suggs for a review of your situation. All consultations are free of charge.
Consumer Alert
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has classified Zoloft as a pregnancy Category C drug, meaning that it is potentially capable of harming a baby’s development in the womb. If you are taking Zoloft and become pregnant, or intend to become pregnant, tell our doctor right away. Do not go off the medication without talking to your doctor, as this may lead to other serious side effects.
Zoloft and Birth Defects
Birth defects have been linked to Zoloft and other antidepressants known as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs). These include Lexapro, Paxil, Prozac, Wellbutrin, Zoloft, Zyban, Effexor and Luvox.
Birth defects linked to this class of drugs include:
- Heart defects
- Skull defects
- Abdominal wall defects
- Cleft lip
- Cleft palate
- Clubfoot
- Anal atresia
Zoloft Linked to Miscarriage
Researchers at the University of Montreal published results from a study on May 31, 2010, in the Canadian Medical Association Journal suggesting that women who take antidepressants, such as Zoloft, during the first few weeks of pregnancy are more likely to suffer a miscarriage than women who do not take antidepressants.
Zoloft and Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors
Zoloft has been linked to suicidal behavior in some users. Zoloft is used to treat depression, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder in adults, children and adolescents.
Physicians are advised to assess patients who are prescribed Zoloft for risks for suicide and to monitor patients for increases in suicidal thoughts or other signs that their symptoms are getting worse.
Zoloft and Increased Risk to Elderly Patients
A 2011 British study has found that Zoloft and other SSRI antidepressants pose more risks to elderly patients compared to older drugs called tricyclic antidepressants. SSRI antidepressants are widely prescribed to older patients, but surprisingly few studies have been conducted to assess their safety in this population. According to the study, patients taking SSRIs were more likely to die, suffer a stroke, fall or fracture or seizure compared to those not taking an antidepressant.
Zoloft and Autism
A 2011 study, which appears in the Archives of General Psychiatry, found that children exposed to SSRI antidepressants before birth during the first trimester were nearly four times as likely to develop an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) compared with unexposed children.
Legal Help for Victims of Zoloft Injuries
If you or a loved one were treated with Zoloft and suffered any of the above injuries, you may have valuable legal rights. Please fill out our online form, or call us toll-free 1-877-My-Advocates (1-877-692-3862) to discuss your case with one of our pharmaceutical injury lawyers today.
