Taking Zoloft while pregnant may lead to an increased risk of several different types of birth defects, many which are potentially life threatening. Over the past few years Zoloft has been linked to congenital heart defects, stomach/abdominal wall defects, cranial/skull defects, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and several other devastating medical conditions. The FDA has released a safety communication regarding the increased risk of one of these conditions, Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN). Unfortunately, the FDA still allows for the treatment of pregnant women with this type of antidepressant medication despite these risks.
FDA Pregnancy Categories
Currently, the United States Food and Drug Administration uses a category system in order to rank and evaluate the safety of various drugs taken during pregnancy. This category system was introduced in the year 1979, and many other countries have implemented similar systems. This is because many drugs are tetrogens, which means that they could potentially harm a developing child. Zoloft (sertraline) is in the FDA’s “Pregnancy Category C,” which means that in animal studies, the drug has demonstrated harm/adverse effect to the developing child, but sufficient studies have not been performed using humans. Another similar antidepressant, Paxil, was recently reclassified as “Pregnancy Category D,” after new studies and market research demonstrated an adverse effect to human fetus.
Zoloft FDA Alert Lawsuits
Because taking Zoloft while pregnant has demonstrated increased risk of birth defects in several studies, many families choose to file a Zoloft lawsuit against Pfizer in order to help alleviate some of the financial burden that these injuries result in. A Zoloft lawsuit alleges that the manufacturer of the drug either did not perform sufficient testing prior to the release of the product, or that they failed in their duty to alert consumers regarding the potential for causing harm.
File a Zoloft Lawsuit: Speak to an Attorney
If your child was born with a birth injury and the mother was prescribed an antidepressant medication like Zoloft during the pregnancy, you and your family may be legally entitled to a financial settlement. Call the Willis Law Firm today in order to find out whether a Zoloft lawsuit is the right choice for you and your child. We are currently reviewing antidepressant birth defect cases in all 50 states regarding the following antidepressant medications:
- Zoloft
- Paxil
- Lexapro
- Celexa
- Effexor
- Prozac
Call today for your free and confidential case evaluation; all birth defect clients are taken on a contingency fee basis which means that you will not be billed any legal fees unless a recovery is made in your favor.