Zoloft, SSRIs Linked to Birth Defects

SSRIs are a class of drugs that are used as antidepressants including the popular drugs Zoloft, Paxil, Lexapro, Prozac, and Celexa. The use of these drugs has skyrocketed in the past two decades, with 118 million people prescribed antidepressants in 2005. One of most popular SSRI antidepressants is Zoloft, which is manufactured by Pfizer. Zoloft’s sales totaled over $3 billion in 2005 and it was once the most popular SSRI, but sales have since fallen.

A report showed that women taking Zoloft while pregnant were up to twice as likely to have a child with certain birth defects as women who took a different class of antidepressants.

In 2006, the FDA released a report warning that Zoloft and other SSRIs significantly increased the risk of PPHN and other defects in newborns. PPHN is the failure of the normal circulatory system transition following birth, and sometimes leads to death or disease for the child. Then, a 2007 report by the New England Journal of Medicine showed that that women taking Zoloft while pregnant were up to twice as likely to have a child with certain birth defects as women who took a different class of antidepressants. Zoloft is classified by the FDA as a pregnancy “Category C” drug, signifying that the risk to pregnant females is unknown but that animal studies have shown a possible risk of adverse effects to the fetus.

Antidepressants can be beneficial for patients, but may also have serious side effects, especially for pregnant women. If you have worries about your use or planned use of antidepressants, talk to your doctor to weigh the benefits and risks and to assess your options. If you or a loved one has had a child with birth defects after taking Zoloft or another SSRI during pregnancy, you may be eligible for legal recourse. Contact an experienced Zoloft birth defect lawyer to find out if you can pursue compensation for your child’s injuries.