Zoloft (sertraline) is one of the most popular SSRI antidepressant medications in existence. Unfortunately, Zoloft and other SSRIs may increase a pregnant woman’s risk of having a baby with a birth defect. Heart defects, physical deformities, cranial defects, and Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN) have all been linked to the use of SSRIs during pregnancy. If you took Zoloft during pregnancy and your baby had a birth defect, contact a lawyer regarding a Zoloft lawsuit.

What You Can Do & How a Zoloft Lawsuit Can Help

The Schmidt Firm, LLP is currently accepting Zoloft birth defect cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has had a child with a birth defect caused by this medication, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free Zoloft lawsuit consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Zoloft Litigation Group or call us toll-free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.

Zoloft Overview

Zoloft (sertraline) is an antidepressant medication. It is also used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorders, panic disorders, anxiety disorders, and other mood disorders. It belongs to a new class of antidepressants known as SSRIs, or “Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors,” which selectively increase the amount of serotonin in a person’s brain with relatively few side effects. SSRI antidepressants are the most widely-used in the world, and include Prozac, Celexa, Lexapro, and more.

Zoloft is manufactured by the pharmaceutical company Pfizer. It was introduced on the U.S. market in 1991, and has since become one of the best-selling antidepressants. The U.S. patent for Zoloft expired in 2006, and it is now available in generic form.

Though many believe that depression is caused by “chemical imbalance” caused by chronically low serotonin levels, there is no scientific evidence to support this theory. Instead, scientists believe that the cause of depression is far more complex. It is clear that some abnormality in the serotonin system plays a role in depression, and clearly depression can be treated by increasing levels of serotonin. However, no one actually knows what causes depression. It may be a complex interaction of genetics and environmental factors.

Zoloft and Pregnancy

Do not start or stop taking any medication without first consulting a physician. Depression is a serious illness, and suddenly stopping Zoloft may have adverse effects on you and your unborn baby.

In a study of women taking antidepressants between 1998 and 2005, 4.5% of pregnant women reported using an antidepressant. Of these women, 3.8% used an SSRI. This class of antidepressants is the most commonly-used among pregnant women.

Some women accidentally take an antidepressant while they are pregnant. This can have serious consequences for an unborn baby, because some of the most severe birth defects develop within the first few weeks of pregnancy.

Other women decide to take an antidepressant during pregnancy after weighing the risks versus benefits. The risk of having a baby with a birth defect is relatively small, but the risk of suffering a serious relapse of depression is relatively high for some women who stop taking their medications.

Scientific Studies of Zoloft and Birth Defects

Several scientific studies have looked for a link between SSRI antidepressants and birth defects. Here are a few studies that have shown a link between SSRI antidepressants and a variety of birth defects:

• Use of Selective-Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors in Pregnancy and the Risk of Birth Defects, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, found a link between SSRIs and anencephaly, craniosynostosis, or omphalocele.
• FDA Drug Safety Communication: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant use during pregnancy and reports of Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN), a rare heart and lung condition.
• FDA Safety Advisory regarding the link between the SSRI Paxil (paroxetine) and heart defects. Women taking an SSRI during the first three months of pregnancy were 1.5 to 2 times more likely to have a baby with a heart defect.

Birth Defects Linked to Zoloft

Mothers who have taken antidepressants during pregnancy have given birth to babies with a wide variety of birth defects. Sometimes the birth defect is not life-threatening, such as a cleft lip. Other times, the birth defect causes serious problems for the baby, and they must undergo intensive care shortly after birth. The Zoloft lawyers at The Schmidt Firm, LLP are accepting Zoloft birth defect cases, including:

• Heart Defects
• Cranial Defects
• Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN)
• Abdominal Defects
• Neural Tube Birth Defects
• Ebstein’s Anomaly
• Clubfoot
• Spina Bifida
• Esophageal Stenosis
• Gastroschisis
• Tetralogy of Fallot
• Coarctation of the Aorta
• Truncus Arteriosus
• Pulmonary Valve Stenosis
• Atrial Septal Defects
• Ventricular Septal Defects
• Anal Atresia
• Patent Ductus Arteriosus
• Mitral Valve Defects
• Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome
• Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome
• Aortic Stenosis
• Heart Murmur
• Tricuspid Atresia
• Transposition of the Great Vessels
• Pulmonary Atresia
• Heart Valve Problems
• Down Syndrome
• Anencephaly
• Hypospadias
• Tricuspid Valve Stenosis
• Dandy-Walker Syndrome
• Hydronephrosis
• Encephalocele
• Undescended Testicles
• Craniosynostosis
• Esophageal Atresia
• Cloacal Exstrophy
• Hydranencephaly
• Cleft Lip
• Cleft Palate
• Growth Retardation
• Iniencephaly
• Diaphragmatic Hernia

Do I have a Zoloft Lawsuit?

The Schmidt Firm, LLP is currently accepting Zoloft induced birth defect cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know had a baby with a birth defect after taking Zoloft, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Zoloft Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.

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