SSRIs and How They Work
SSRIs are the most widely prescribed anti-depressant. Most commonly used to treat major depression, it can also be used for many other mood disorders. Although their exact mechanism of action is not completely understood by scientists, scientists do know that the ability of SSRIs to affect mood has something to do with blocking the reuptake of serotonin, an important cell-signaling molecule and neurotransmitter. While serotonin has many functions, the function that SSRIs target is its function as a regulator of mood, and scientists have found that especially among patients with major depression, SSRIs can cause a dramatic improvement in their mood and behavior.
Are SSRIs Dangerous?
Recent research has shown that SSRIs may have a significant impact on the health of fetuses in mothers who are taking the drug, suggesting that SSRIs cross the placental barrier during pregnancy. Many studies have demonstrated that there is a link between SSRIs and the risk of health defects among pregnant women. In addition to a number of heart defects and physical malformations, scientists have found SSRIs to be associated with mental issues as well. In April 2014, a study conducted by researchers at Johns Hopkins found a correlation between boys diagnosed with autism and SSRI exposure before birth. In a similar study, researchers at Harvard found that children exposed to SSRIs before birth were twice as likely to be diagnosed with attention deficit disorders.
A Recent Spike in SSRI Lawsuits
There has been a significant rise in the number of SSRI lawsuits over the last decade. Anti-depressants were commonly prescribed to pregnant women in the early 2000s. Most of these mothers were not informed of the risks associated with taking SSRIs during pregnancy, as it was only in 2006 that the United States Food and Drug Administration began to require pharmaceutical companies to issue a warning about those risks. Currently, there are over 500 lawsuits filed against Pfizer on account of their SSRI medication, Zoloft. These lawsuits claim that Pfizer failed to warn patients adequately about the dangers of SSRIs for pregnant women.
Filing an Iowa SSRI Lawsuit
If you are a parent whose child suffered from a birth defect that you think may be associated with SSRIs, consider reaching out to Attorney Group for Iowa. We would be glad to address questions or concerns you might have about filing an SSRI lawsuit in Iowa. We also provide a case evaluation at no cost whatsoever to you. If litigation seems like the right option for you, we can connect you with an affiliated Iowa attorney who has the experience to help you seek the monetary damages that may be entitled to you.
