Zoloft and Pregnancy

The risks associated with the use of Zoloft and other antidepressants, such as Paxil or Prozac, during pregnancy have been heavily researched since 2006. A group of researchers took a further look at the risks of taking these selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) during the first trimester, and published their findings in the New England Journal of Medicine in June 2007.

According to the study, the use of Zoloft during the first trimester can cause a number of serious birth defects, especially congenital heart defects and lung defects such as persistent pulmonary hypertension in a newborn (PPHN). In fact, women who took Zoloft in their first trimester were twice as likely as those who were not taking an SSRI to give birth to an infant with a heart defect, and six times as likely to give birth to an infant with PPHN.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a health advisory in 2006 when these risks were first discovered. If your child received a birth defect due to Zoloft use while you were pregnant, you could be entitled to seek compensation through a lawsuit. Contact our firm to discuss how to submit your claim today.

Researchers found that Zoloft use during the first trimester increases the risk of birth defects such as:

• Ventricular outflow tract obstruction defects, or the inability to effectively pump blood through the heart and body
• Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), a malformation of the left side of the heart, which is responsible for pumping blood to the body
• Atrial and ventricular septal defects, or holes in the walls that separate the chambers of the heart
• Tetralogy of Fallot, a combination of four heart defects that overall weaken the heart's ability to pump blood throughout the body
• Transposition of the aorta and pulmonary arteries
• Coarctation of the aorta, or severe narrowing of the aorta which causes a decrease in blood flow to the lower half of the body
• Spina bifida, a neural tube defect where the lower spinal cord is located outside the spinal column
• Craniosyntosis, in which the skull bones fuse prematurely
• Omphalocele, a condition in which abdominal organs such as the intestines or stomach form outside the abdomen
• Anal atresia, where the opening in the anus is blocked
• Clubfoot
• Cleft palate or cleft lip
• Limb malformations or partial arm or leg formation
• Persistent pulmonary hypertension in a newborn (PPHN), a serious condition in which abnormally high blood pressure in the lungs can lead to respiratory failure shortly after birth

Many of these defects require further surgery upon birth to correct — if they can be corrected at all — and all pose certain risks for delivery as well as to a newborn's overall health and development. Additionally, individuals and families with these conditions can face ongoing medical expenses and lifelong limitations in their ability to enjoy a full quality of life due to their disability.

We Can Help You

At the law firm of Miller Weisbrod, LLP, we help families in Texas and nationwide understand their real options for pursuing compensation for otherwise preventable birth defects. Our experienced birth injury attorneys keep up to date on the most current research regarding SSRIs and birth defects, and put our knowledge to work for our clients.

For more information on how to submit your claim, contact our firm in Dallas at 214.987.0005. If you are calling from outside the DFW Metroplex, please use our toll-free line at 888.987.0005 or contact us by e-mail to schedule an appointment.