(Newswire.net — August 12, 2013) Los Angeles, CA —
According to Drug Watch, Zoloft is an antidepressant that belongs to the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) family of drugs. The problem with drugs in this class is that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has assigned them grade “C” in terms of safety during pregnancy. This means that the studies have shown that such drugs cause serious health complications to animals when taken in large doses.
However, this approach has several drawbacks because researchers cannot test the drug on human babies. The only warning that the FDA gives is that effects on unborn babies are unknown. This information notwithstanding, doctors have prescribed this antidepressant to pregnant women suffering from depression, panic disorders, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). As a result, some women have given birth to children with lung, heart, cranial, and abdominal defects.
If you or a loved one gave birth to a baby with defects after taking Zoloft, click here to contact us and find out how you can file a Zoloft pregnancy lawsuit.
Birth Defects Associated With Zoloft
Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN)
PPHN is by far one of the most common and serious birth defect associated with Zoloft. A report published by Drug Watch states that researchers believe taking Zoloft during the last four and half months of a pregnancy increases the risk of giving birth to a baby with PPHN. The FDA says that PPHN makes it hard for newly born babies to adapt to breathing outside their mother’s wombs. This means that such babies require assistance to breath in the form of mechanical ventilators.
Anencephaly
According to the results of a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, pregnant women who take Zoloft increase the likelihood of giving birth to babies with omphalocele, anencephaly, or craniosynostosis. Although omphalocele is treatable, anencephaly is hard to treat. In fact, the majority of babies with this medical condition do not survive for long after birth.
It is the duty of a pharmaceutical company to warn consumers about the dangers of its drugs. When it fails to take this responsibility seriously, aggrieved consumers have the right to seek legal redress. Women who have taken Zoloft while pregnant should seek legal advice immediately.