What is Zoloft?
Zoloft is an antidepressant drug of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class. Its efficacy is believed to be similar to that of the older tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline but with fewer side effects. There is some evidence to suggest that sertraline is more effective than the more widely known Prozac (fluoxetine).
It is prescribed mainly for major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults. It is additionally used for obsessive-compulsive disorder in both children and adults, as also social anxiety disorder and panic attacks. While it has FDA approval for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and social phobia, it has not shown itself to be terribly effective for these indications.
Zoloft is associated with a tenuous but very real increased rate of certain specific birth defects. Some of these conditions are very serious and may even be life-threatening. If you or someone you know has recently given birth to a child with any of the conditions described below, they are encouraged to get in touch with the attorneys who specialize in Alabama birth defects cases.
What are the Alabama birth defects linked with the use of Zoloft and other SSRIs?
Alabama birth defects attorneys are seeing a lot of heart-related problems in their practice that may be related to Zoloft use in pregnant mothers. One study published in the New England Journal of Medicine compared maternal SSRI use in 6,000 healthy babies and 10,000 babies with birth defects. Women who had taken Zoloft in early pregnancy had twice the risk of giving birth to a baby with a heart defect. Some of the heart defects reported are:
- Tetralogy of fallot (TOF)
- Coarctation of the aorta
- Hypoplastic left heart syndrome
- Holes in the heart
- Septal heart defects
- Pulmonary atresia
- Transposition of the great vessels
- Persistent pulmonary hypertension in newborns (PPHN)
Attorneys are also receiving reports and handling cases of the following birth defects that are unrelated to the heart. These include:
- Anencephaly
- Omphalocele
- Anal atresia
- Limb reductions
- Club foot
- Skull defects
Have You Faced Adverse Effects After Taking Zoloft?
If you or someone you are close to took an SSRI in pregnancy and gave birth to an infant who developed any of the above cardiac or neural tube defects, contact us at Attorney Group for Alabama. Dealing with such trauma can be overwhelming and you should not have to handle it alone. We can answer your questions and help you decide whether you want to pursue compensation, all at no cost to you. If you have any questions at all, contact Attorney Group for Alabama today.
