Zoloft® and Birth Defects

Evidence has been building since 2005, suggesting that Zoloft® and other antidepressants in the class of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) might increase the risk of certain birth defects when they are taken during pregnancy.

If you were prescribed Zoloft® while you were pregnant and your baby is diagnosed with a birth defect such as persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) or a congenital heart defect, our birth defect lawyers can help you. To learn more, please contact us today.

Zoloft® is approved to treat adults with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Panic Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD). It is also approved to treat children between the ages 6 and 17 that are diagnosed with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

As one of the most commonly prescribed antidepressants in the world, Zoloft® has been given to millions of people. If you are taking Zoloft® and become pregnant or are planning a pregnancy, talk to your doctor immediately. Keep in mind that you should not stop taking your antidepressants without advising your doctor as uncontrolled symptoms can be harmful to both you and your baby.

Birth Defects linked to Zoloft®

Zoloft® and other SSRIs such as Lexapro® and Prozac® have been linked to an increase in the risk of various birth defects. Back in 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a safety alert to warn patients and healthcare providers about a possible risk of a serious lung defect known as persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) in infants whose mothers take the drug during their pregnancies.

According to the FDA announcement, a study that was published in The New England Journal of Medicine showed that PPHN was 6 times more likely to occur in babies whose mothers took an SSRI after the 20th week of pregnancy than in those whose mothers did not take antidepressants at all while pregnant.

Other birth defects that have been reported to have developed in babies whose mothers took an SSRI during her pregnancy include:

• Heart defects (septal defects, valve defects)
• Abdominal defects (omphalocele)
• Skull defects (craniosynostosis)
• Deformed limbs (club foot)

Other Dangerous Side Effects of Zoloft®

As with all antidepressants, Zoloft® may not work for everyone. Patients are advised to tell their doctors if they experience symptoms such as agitation, hallucinations, changes in mental status, rapid heartbeat high or low blood pressure, nausea, vomiting and excessive sweating. These symptoms might mean the patient is suffering from a serious side effect called Serotonin Syndrome or Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome.

Contact a Zoloft® Birth Defect Lawyer

Contact our birth defect lawyers for more information. We can help you seek compensation if you were given Zoloft® during your pregnancy and your baby suffered as a result.