A Florida mother has filed a birth defects lawsuit on behalf of her minor child, alleging that the use of Pfizer’s SSRI drug, Zoloft during her pregnancy caused her daughter to be born with serious birth defects.

Plaintiff Melissa M. was prescribed and used Zoloft to treat her depression according to instructions, during her pregnancy.

According to the Zoloft birth defects lawsuit, Melissa’s daughter was exposed to the antidepressant medication in utero, and was born with birth defects, including major skull malformations known as torticollis and plagiocephaly.

Due to these permanent and life threatening birth defects, Melissa’s daughter will need lifelong medical treatment, as well as monitoring and/or medication as a result of these Zoloft side effects.

Melissa claims that the defendant fraudulently misrepresented its drug Zoloft to the medical community, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the public, and herself as a safe and effective for the treatment of major depression.

Zoloft (sertraline hydrochloride) belongs to a class of drugs called “selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors,” also known as SSRIs. Zoloft was first approved by the FDA in 1991 for the treatment of major depression.

Zoloft Linked to Birth Defects

The Zoloft birth defects lawsuit also states that medical literature and studies over the past several years have established associations between exposure to SSRI drugs (including Zoloft) in utero and the development of birth defects.

The official FDA stance on drug warnings is that drug companies, including the defendant, are required to issue stronger warnings whenever there exists reasonable evidence of a link between a serious risk and their drug. These regulations state specifically that the link between the potential risk and the drug need not be proven before issuing the new warnings.

Melissa’s Zoloft birth defects lawsuit alleges that the defendant was aware of Zoloft’s connection to birth defects, but chose not to adequately warn the public, the medical community, or the plaintiff about the risk of birth defects associated with their product.

She furthers claims that this choice was made to intentionally defraud and deceive the plaintiff, the public, and the medical community about the true risks of Zoloft.

Melissa is seeking compensatory damages for her daughter’s birth defects as a result of the damages caused by her use of Zoloft during pregnancy.

If you or someone you know has taken Zoloft and has had a child born with birth defects, you may be able to file a Zoloft birth defects lawsuit.

The Zoloft Birth Defects Lawsuit is Case No. 2:15-cv-00568-CMR, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.