19 New Zoloft Birth Defect Lawsuits Filed

Zoloft, a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant manufactured by Pfizer, has come under fire again, as the drug is believed to have caused birth defects in a number of children whose mothers used the drug during their pregnancies.

Many Zoloft lawsuits have been filed in response to this serious issue. In fact, at least 19 new lawsuits have been filed by mothers claiming Zoloft caused birth defects and other complications in their children. However, Pfizer continues to market and sell the product — negligent of the potential dangers of the drug, Zoloft birth defect lawyers say.

Specifics of the Zoloft Birth Defect Lawsuits

Allegations in the Zoloft birth defect lawsuits indicate that Plaintiffs should have been warned of the potential dangers to their children if they used the drug while pregnant. They also question whether the drug is too dangerous and unfit to be marketed and sold, as it fails to effectively warn of the potentially life-threatening dangers it poses to newborn babies.

Because of the overwhelming number of Zoloft birth defect lawsuits filed, a consolidation of the lawsuits was formed in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in April 2012. More than 92 federal lawsuits alleging Zoloft and its generic version sertraline caused birth defects are pending in the Zoloft Birth Defect MDL known as In re: Zoloft (Sertaline Hydrochloride) Products Liability Litigation (MDL No. 2342). The Zoloft MDL now makes it easier for victims to sue Pfizer and hopefully collect compensation for the damages Zoloft caused.

 

Zoloft Birth Defects

Lawsuits pending in the Zoloft Birth Defect MDL allege the SSRI antidepressant caused numerous birth defects in children born to women who used the drug during pregnancy. The effects of Zoloft taken during pregnancy can include:

* Holes in the heart
* Cognitive disorders
* Heart defects
* Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN)
* Spina bifida
* Club foot
* Cleft lip/cleft palate
* Malformed limbs
* Malformed skull

The FDA and Their Mandatory Drug Label Change for Zoloft

The number of birth defects being attributed to Zoloft got the attention of the FDA, who ordered Pfizer to change the drug’s labels to warn of the increased risk of a life-threatening birth defect called persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN), which poses a serious hazard to newborns.

In June 2007, the New England Journal of Medicine linked the use of SSRI antidepressants during pregnancy to the increased risk of birth defects, including the following:

* Defects of the brain
* Heart defects
* Face abnormalities
* Head abnormalities
* Defects of the spine
* Defects in the organs
* Defects of the abdomen
* And much more…

Additionally, an October 2006 issue of Epidemiology Journal indicated that women who take SSRI antidepressants during their second or third month of pregnancy double the risk of having children with birth defects.

Birth defects are a very serious issue and many victims (the babies) suffer tremendously. Many of these birth defects will also have a life-long effect, forcing the child and their families to endure years of ongoing medical treatment and to incur huge medical expenses.

If you or someone you love has been the victim of Pfizer and their drug Zoloft, do not wait another day. Contact a Zoloft birth defect attorney and ensure that your rights are protected.

Visit the Zoloft, Paxil, Celexa, Lexapro & Prozac SSRI Antidepressant Birth Defect Class Action Lawsuit Investigation to receive more information about your legal rights. You may have a case to file a Zoloft lawsuit, Zoloft class action lawsuit or to join the Zoloft Birth Defect MDL. Zoloft birth defect lawyers are standing by to review your claims, and will fight to get the compensation your child and your family deserves.