A mother upset about her child’s birth defects has filed a birth defects lawsuit against Pfizer, Inc., alleging that the company’s blockbuster antidepressant Zoloft caused her child to develop severe birth defects.

Candice R. was prescribed Zoloft to treat a mental condition, and continued taking the drug throughout her pregnancy. She filed the Zoloft birth defects lawsuit against Pfizer for failing to warn her of the possible complications.

Candice’s child was born on Oct. 15, 2008, and was diagnosed two years later with autism. According to the Zoloft lawsuit, the child has difficulty speaking and is very noise sensitive, and also suffers from hearing loss and other sensory problems. The child has had to receive intensive therapy for speech development and behavior therapy, and is on an individual education plan at preschool.

The specialized cognitive and behavioral therapy is expensive, leaving Candice stressed over mounting financial debts to cover the therapy and other medical costs. Through her Zoloft lawsuit, Candice is seeking compensation from Pfizer.

Candice alleges that Pfizer failed to warn her that her child could develop birth defects if she took Zoloft while pregnant. She also claims that Pfizer failed to warn her physician about the possibility of birth defects, and failed to provide relevant studies to the FDA and medical community.

Overview of Zoloft Birth Defect Allegations

Zoloft (Sertaline) was approved to treat major depression disorders in the early 1990s. Since its release, Zoloft has gained popularity among patients due to its lack of cognitive side effects. Patients prefer the drug to some alternatives because it does not completely shut down their emotional responses.

Experts state that this is primarily due to the fact that Zoloft belongs to a popular group of medications called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These drugs work by stabilizing the specific malfunction in the brain causing the patient’s mood disorders, rather than targeting the entire brain.

Candice was one of many patients who preferred Zoloft’s mild mental side effects, but states she never would have used the drug if she had known about the risk of birth defects.

Pfizer has allegedly known about the risk of birth defects for years, but did not disclose the risk to physicians or patients. Additionally, Pfizer has been criticized for stating that their drug was perfectly safe to consume for pregnant women, while allegedly being fully aware that Zoloft could cause birth defects.

For being allegedly responsible for manufacturing, selling, distributing, and marketing a dangerous drug, Candice is suing Pfizer for negligence, false advertising, concealing information, and misrepresenting a product.

The Zoloft Birth Defects Lawsuit is Candice R. v. Pfizer Inc., Case No. 2:15-cv-00389-CMR, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.