The antidepressant Zoloft (sertraline) may increase the risk of having a baby with a birth defect if it is taken during pregnancy. Over 600 lawsuits have already been filed against Pfizer, and plaintiffs accuse the drug-maker of failing to warn about the risk of birth defects.
What is the problem?
Zoloft (sertraline), manufactured by Pfizer, is one of the most popular antidepressants in the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class. However, when it is used during pregnancy, studies have shown that it can pass through the placenta and may harm a developing fetus.
Researchers have not concluded that Zoloft causes birth defects, but there is enough concerning evidence that many people are calling on Pfizer to place risk information on the label. Several studies have linked first-trimester use of Zoloft to an increased risk of heart defects (especially “hole in the heart” defects). Third-trimester use of Zoloft is associated with Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN), withdrawal symptoms in a newborn, and more.
Zoloft Class Action Information
If you decide to seek compensation for your child’s birth defect, you won’t be alone — over 600 Zoloft lawsuits are pending in state and federal litigation around the United States. However, these are not part of a Zoloft class action. Instead, they are individual legal claims. Most of the cases are centralized in a federal Multi-District Litigation (MDL No. 2342) in Pennsylvania. However, a number of cases have also been filed in state courts, including Alabama, California, Illinois, Missouri, and New York.
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