Spina bifida is one of many serious and potentially life threatening birth defects that has been linked to antenatal exposure to the popular antidepressant Zoloft. In studies of pregnant women who were prescribed SSRI antidepressants, like Zoloft, the concentration of the medication present in the umbilical cord blood at the time of birth, meaning that during pregnancy the developing child is receiving this drug. In addition to spina bifida, the risk of the following congenital defects may be increased when the mother took an SSRI while pregnant: cranial/skull defects, heart defects, abdominal/stomach wall defects, lung defects, and autism spectrum disorders. Numerous lawsuits have been filed by many families against Pfizer, the company behind Zoloft.
About Zoloft Spina Bifida
Zoloft spina bifida, a type of congenital defect present at birth, takes place when the neural tube fails to close normally in the month following conception. The neural tube refers to the embryonic matter that will in time become the child’s brain and spinal cord, as well as the tissues that surround them. Spina bifida can take three forms:
Spina Bifida Occulta- Most mild form, typically doesn’t involve spinal nerves, may not be diagnosed unless discovered during an X-ray.
Meningocele- Rare form, meninges push through vertebrae, little or no nerve damage, treated with surgery.
Myelomeningocele- Also called “Open Spina Bifida,” most severe form, spinal canal remains open, sac forms on baby’s back, tissues and nerves exposed, risk of deadly infections.
Zoloft Spina Bifida Treatment and Complications
While mild forms, like spina bifida occulta, may require little or no treatment, meningocele and myelomeningocele definitely will. Sometimes this Zoloft neural tube defect will be treated with prenatal surgery, and other times surgery will be performed shortly following birth. As with many congenital defects, treatment by no means ends with the first surgery. Often further operations will be necessary, as well as lifelong monitoring and specialized medical care. The complications associated with Zoloft spina bifida range widely in severity, which is affected by the location/size of the defect, whether or not the defect is covered by skin, and which nerves protrude through the spinal cord. Spina bifida may lead to both physical and neurological issues as well as hydrocephalus and meningitis.
File a Spina Bifida Lawsuit: Speak to a Zoloft Attorney
Was your child or the child of a loved one affected with spina bifida or other serious birth defect? Was his or her mother prescribed Zoloft (or other SSRI antidepressant) during the pregnancy? If so, call the Willis Law Firm today and we will promptly review your potential Zoloft lawsuit claim free of charge and free of obligation. When you call, we will help provide the useful information that you and your family need in order to see if you may be eligible to financial compensation. The Willis Law Firm is currently reviewing Zoloft lawsuit cases nationwide; all antidepressant birth defect cases are taken on a contingency fee basis.