Another Mom Files Zoloft Birth Defect Lawsuit

The Zoloft birth defect lawsuit was filed on March 29, 2013 as part of the multidistrict litigation (MDL), which is made up of Zoloft victims just like this mom. This particular MDL began one year ago in April 2012 and now contains 90 Zoloft birth defect cases. The purpose of an MDL is to streamline the litigation process, avoid conflicted rulings, and ensure that double work isn’t done (such as “discovering” the same thing at different times). It in general makes the process easier and faster for everyone involved.

Zoloft and SSRI Birth Defects

There are many SSRIs, but Zoloft is one of the most popular. In this MDL, all of the mothers took Zoloft during pregnancy, which resulted in having children with birth defects. These birth defects range from moderate to lethal, and each of the moms claim that there wasn’t adequate warning labels on the drug. How many mothers would take a prescription knowing that there was a serious risk of it harming their baby?

Zoloft, like all SSRIs, is an antidepressant that doctors may prescribe to pregnant women because Pfizer has suggested that it’s relatively safe for use during pregnancy. It’s been available since 1991 and was the most prescribed antidepressant in 2007. This mother took Zoloft throughout her pregnancy, as her doctor suggested, only to find her son was born with a number of heart issues and — perhaps most upsetting — a “failure to thrive.”

A Host of SSRI Pregnancy Side Effects

There are many SSRI pregnancy side effects linked to Zoloft and antidepressants like it. They include heart malformations, failure to thrive, limb abnormalities, death caused by complications and gastrointestinal defects. Congestive heart failure sadly isn’t uncommon, and many babies with Zoloft side effects require immediate and ongoing surgeries to try to address the problems. Some of them do not survive even their first surgery.

Others, like this recent mom’s child, suffer from an endocardial cushion defect, which means the two heart sides aren’t adequately separated. This causes more pressure in the lungs and heart, and surgery is often the only way to address the issue. Now just over two years old, the most recent plaintiff’s son continues to suffer tremendously and undergo regular surgeries.

Was an SSRI Part of Your Pregnancy Regimen?

Perhaps most devastating in these cases is that the moms feel a tremendous amount of self-blame. Choosing to take a drug, even when prescribed by a physician, which results in birth defects is a big burden to carry. That’s why these SSRI birth defect lawsuits are so important. Pfizer should be held responsible for not testing and/or warning moms to be about the very real risks. If your child has birth defects caused by an antidepressant, you potentially have a legal claim.

Learn more about your legal rights at the Zoloft, Paxil, Celexa, Lexapro, Depakote & Prozac SSRI Antidepressant Birth Defect Class Action Lawsuit Investigation. An empathetic representative is available to discuss your birth defect claim review for free. There’s no pressure, no obligation and never any out-of-pocket fees.