TopClassActions  |  October 16, 2013

Category: Pharmaceuticals

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Ohio Woman Sues Pfizer for Son’s Zoloft Birth Defects

By Amanda Antell

 


Zoloft birth defects lawsuitOhio plaintiff Barbara Harrison is suing Pfizer Inc. for the birth defects her baby suffered after she ingested their antidepressant, Zoloft. Harrison gave birth to twin boys on November 20, 2000. One of them, called “D.H.”, was born with birth defects. Harrison had taken Zoloft from 2000 to 2008 to treat her depression and anxiety.

After his birth, D.H. was put under immediate hospital care. The infant was born with penile lesions, and was diagnosed with hypospadias in 2008. Hypospadias is a congenital defect in which the opening of the urethra is on the underside of the penis. On February 7, 2012, D.H. underwent surgery to correct his hypospadias, and continues to need regular medical exams to this day.


According to medical experts, D.H. will not have a standard childhood and Harrison will continue to rack up medical bills due to her son’s care. Harrison states that Pfizer is negligent for her son’s birth defects, and therefore, owes her compensation for his medical treatment. According to her Zoloft lawsuit, she was not told that Zoloft could cause birth defects in unborn children, nor was her physician aware of these possibilities.

Harrison states that either the company knew or should have known about these possible birth defects, and should be held responsible for not properly indicating the risks on the warning label.

Harrison is suing Pfizer for negligence, and accuses the company of manufacturing, selling, marketing and distributing a dangerous drug. Other charges she is alleging in her Zoloft lawsuit include misrepresenting a product, false advertising and concealing information.

Overview of Zoloft Complications

Pfizer began selling Zoloft to the public after it was approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in 1992. It is currently the most widely prescribed medication in the United States, with over 27 million prescriptions filled and $3.3 billion in sales. In its past and current promotional materials, Pfizer did not discourage pregnant women to use Zoloft, but actually encouraged pregnant women to use the drug. In none of the advertisements does Pfizer warn that a fetus could develop birth defects if a pregnant woman takes the medication.

Zoloft is a part of a drug family called SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), which are typically used to treat depression, anxiety and other mood disorders. SSRIs are unique because unlike more traditional antidepressants, they target the specific malfunction in the brain, and directly counteract it. Many patients and doctors praise this medication due to the fact that it does not cause significant emotional side effects when compared to other medications. However, many medical experts believe that the main component of the drug, sertaline, may increase the risk that a child will be born with birth defects. 

While it is currently unknown what actually causes Zoloft birth defects, there have been various studies done to observe the occurrence of birth defects associated with the use of antidepressants. In September 2009, a study was published in the British Medical Journal that looked at 493,000 patients who had taken antidepressants during their pregnancies. In patients who took Zoloft or other SSRI medications, the risk of birth defects were at least six times higher than other antidepressants.

Zoloft Birth Defect Lawsuits Grow

At this time, Pfizer has not updated Zoloft’s warning label to include birth defects as a side effect, despite the overwhelming scientific evidence and litigation movement. Thousands of women across America are suing Pfizer for the birth defects their children suffered.

This Zoloft birth defects lawsuit is labeled as Barbara Harrison v. Pfizer Inc., Case No. 2:13-cv-04052-CMR, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

File a Zoloft Lawsuit Today

If you believe that you or a loved one have been the victim of an SSRI birth defect, you have legal options. Please visit the Zoloft, Paxil, Celexa, Lexapro & Prozac SSRI Antidepressant Birth Defect Class Action Lawsuit Investigation. There, you can submit your claim for a free legal review and if it qualifies for legal action, a seasoned SSRI birth defect lawyer will contact you for a free, no-obligation consultation. You will be guided through the litigation process at no out-of-pocket expenses or hidden fees. The birth defect attorneys working this investigation do not get paid until you do. 

 

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