A Zoloft birth defect lawsuit was filed against Pfizer by a Florida resident who claims the antidepressant caused her newborn daughter to develop a birth defect.

Pfizer was accused in the Zoloft lawsuit of failing to adequately test Zoloft in addition to continuing to allow the antidepressant to be prescribed to pregnant women without warning about Zoloft birth defects.

Plaintiff Riki A. filed the Zoloft birth defects lawsuit on behalf of herself and her now 9-year-old daughter, referred to as “E.S.” The child was born with the alleged Zoloft birth defect coarctation of the aorta in addition to other malformations. These birth defects have reportedly caused E.S. to live her life in a limited manner.

According to the Zoloft birth defect lawsuit, “E.S. and her mother have suffered physically and emotionally from these birth defects caused by Zoloft. E.S. continues to have regular doctor exams and testing and has been deprived of living a normal childhood.”

Zoloft Birth Defects

Zoloft was introduced to the market in 1992. According to the Zoloft birth defect lawsuit, the popular antidepressant was never tested on pregnant women (and thus their unborn children). Allegedly, Pfizer should have been aware of Zoloft birth defects during the animal testing stage where birth defects were found.

In spite of these findings and the alleged lack of testing of the antidepressant, Pfizer sold Zoloft without warning against potential Zoloft side effects and even allegedly targeted Zoloft use in women of childbearing age and in pregnant women.

Since Zoloft’s introduction, several Zoloft studies have been performed that have revealed Zoloft birth defects. One study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that pregnant women who took Zoloft, or other drugs like it, after the 20th week of pregnancy were six times more likely to have a child born with birth defects.

Another study, also published in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that Zoloft use could increase the chance of a heart defect in an infant by as much as 50 percent.

Including the birth defects experienced by the plaintiff, other Zoloft birth defects include a number of heart conditions, “limb deformations, spina bifida, cleft palate,” and others.

Even other SSRI (selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors) drugs adapted their warning labels to include birth defect risks. Several other SSRI drugs are involved in birth defect lawsuit investigations about their own connection to birth defects.

The Zoloft birth defect lawsuit observed that “the current Zoloft label still does not warn doctors or patients about the increased risk of cardiac malformations and other birth defects seen in babies who mothers took Zoloft.”

Riki alleges that Pfizer knew or should have known about Zoloft birth defects and that Pfizer concealed these risks from the public.

The Zoloft birth defect lawsuit includes counts of strict liability, breach of warranty, negligence, fraud, punitive damages, negligent misrepresentation, and unjust enrichment.

An SSRI birth defect class action lawsuit investigation has been launched on behalf of women who took Zoloft, Prozac, Lexapro, and other drugs that have allegedly caused serious birth defects. These women allege drugs’ manufacturers failed to warn users against potential side effects.

This Zoloft Birth Defect Lawsuit is Case No. 9:14-cv-81574, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.