In the past decade, numerous questions have arisen regarding the safety of taking antidepressant medications while pregnant. Many of the most popular antidepressants have been linked to a range of birth defects including congenital heart defects, upper/lower limb reductions, neural tube defects, abdominal/stomach wall defects, and cranial/skull defects. Recently however, a link has been established between taking SSRI antidepressants during pregnancy and an augmented risk of having a child born with an autism spectrum disorder. SSRIs linked to these disorders include: Zoloft, Prozac, Paxil, Lexapro, and Celexa.
Zoloft and Autism Spectrum Disorders
Because the way different people experience and exhibit the various aspects of autism vary so widely, health care professionals prefer to refer to it as a spectrum of disorders rather than one clear-cut disorder. The autism spectrum label refers to the following conditions:
Autistic Disorder
Asperger Syndrome
Rett Syndrome
Childhood Disintegrative Disorder
Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified
Autism spectrum disorders are usually detected within the three years following birth because of the way that they affect the development of various communication and social skills. There is no cure for Autism, but various types of medications and therapies can be used in order to treat the various symptoms as they occur. As with many Zoloft birth disorders, the prognosis for an autism spectrum disorder depends largely on the severity of the condition and the quality of treatment the child receives.
Zoloft Autism Spectrum Disorders Study
A study performed in July of 2011 demonstrated that the risk of having a child born with an autism spectrum disorder was about two times higher when the mother took an SSRI antidepressant, including Zoloft, at any time during the year prior to giving birth. Furthermore, when a prescription SSRI was taken during the first trimester of pregnancy this risk was increased to three times higher when compared against women who did not take an antidepressant. This link between taking Zoloft while pregnant and Autism spectrum disorders is a fairly new development, but many doctors believe that with further research an even stronger connection between the two will be established.
File a Zoloft Lawsuit: Speak to an Attorney
Was your child born with an autism spectrum disorder and the mother took an antidepressant during the year prior to the birth? If so, call the Willis Law Firm today in order to discuss your potential legal options. You and your child may have a legal claim to monetary compensation through a Zoloft Autism lawsuit. Although located in Houston, our firm is currently accepting antidepressant clients on a national scale; all antidepressant cases are taken on a contingency fee basis, meaning no legal fees will be billed to you unless a recovery is obtained.