New Canadian Study Shows Link Between Zoloft, Other Antidepressants, and Birth Defects

A new study, published in the British Medical Journal, shows a link between antidepressants like Zoloft and Prozac, and birth defects like persistent newborn pulmonary hypertension.

Several lawsuits have been filed against Pfizer regarding the dangers of taking Zoloft during pregnancy. The latest, filed in October 2013 by a woman from Iowa, alleges that Pfizer intentionally withheld information about Zoloft, leading her to take the drug during her pregnancy, and her child has consequently suffered heart-related birth defects.

Lawsuits against Pfizer claim that the company knew about the dangers associated with taking Zoloft during pregnancy, but marketed the drug to pregnant women anyway. Zoloft, which is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) is one of several drugs in its class that can cause birth defects, and many pharmaceutical manufacturers have come under fire recently for failing to warn consumers and health care professionals about the birth defect dangers associated with their drugs.

The latest published study, conducted by a team of Canadian researchers, concluded that SSRI drugs like Zoloft could increase the risk of lung problems in newborns. However, the absolute risk of complication was still low – 3.5 out of every 1,000 births experienced a birth defect.

“Women taking these medications in pregnancy should not panic. The risk is still quite low. It should be one of the factors you consider when you decide to use medications, but it has to be balanced with the potential problems that can occur if you don’t treat depression,” said the study author Dr. Sophie Grigoriadis, head of the Women’s Mood and Anxiety Clinic: Reproductive Transitions at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center, in Toronto.

Despite the low potential risk, women should speak candidly with their medical professionals, as several women have come forward because they took Zoloft during pregnancy and their children have experienced problems.

“We believe these drugs should be established as category D by the FDA, meaning there is evidence this drug can cause harm to your fetus. Most of these drugs are classified by the FDA as category C, which means ‘We don’t really know what the risk is,’” said attorney Kim Adams. “We need women to understand the true risk associated with these medications and the risk to their fetuses.”

A multidistrict litigation (MDL) against Pfizer for Zoloft personal injury lawsuits was established n 2012.

Zoloft Birth Defect Claims

Women who take SSRI antidepressants while they are pregnant face an increased risk having children with birth defects.  If you or someone you love has taken Zoloft and given birth to a child with a birth defect, give us a call today at 803.252.4800 for a  free case evaluation; you could be entitled to compensation.

Common birth defects after taking Zoloft while pregnant include:

• Congenital heart lesions & anomalies
• Down’s syndrome
• Undescended testes in males
• Blindness
• Spina bifida
• Hernia
• Malformations
• Clubfoot (one or both feet turn downward and inward)
• Septal defects; Cleft lip and/or cleft palate

The Strom Law Firm Can Help with Zoloft Birth Defect Claims

The pharmaceutical liability lawyers at The Strom Law Firm, LLC are at the forefront of the fight to protect the public against dangerous drugs, from Actos to Zoloft. We will fight to ensure that you and your loved ones receive the justice you deserve. Contact our defective drug and wrongful death attorneys at the Strom Law Firm, LLC today for a free consultation to discuss the facts of your case as well as your legal rights. 803.252.4800