Mom Says Zoloft Caused ADD and Other Problems in Son

By Sarah Mirando | August 30, 2012

Category: Pharmaceuticals

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By Kimberly Mirando

A new Zoloft birth defect lawsuit has been filed by a Massachusetts mom who alleges her son has been diagnosed with several health complications that could have been prevented if Pfizer had warned her that taking Zoloft during pregnancy increases the risk of fetal harm. She is seeking damages from Pfizer to help cover her son’s mounting medical bills as well as to compensate him for his loss of a normal life.

Mother Kelly Botros alleges in the Zoloft lawsuit, filed August 13, 2012 on behalf of her son Zachariah Botros, that her son was diagnosed with several problems after he was born in 1999. These complications include perianal abscess and two fistulae in ano — an abnormal connection between the anal canal and the perianal skin. Zachariah has also been diagnosed with asthma, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and valgus knees, a condition that causes the knees to angle in and touch one another (commonly called “knock-knee”).

According to the Zoloft lawsuit, these conditions have caused Zachariah pain and suffering and have been very expensive to treat. Zachariah has already undergone one surgery to correct his valgus knees, but without much success. He also takes ADD medication and regularly attends occupational therapy and developmental therapy.

Botros’ Zoloft lawyer says Pfizer should be held liable for Zachariah’s medical problems because they were caused by his mother’s use of Zoloft while she was pregnant with him. The Zoloft lawsuit claims Pfizer encouraged doctors to prescribe Zoloft to pregnant women and targeted women of childbearing age in their marketing campaigns, but never warned them of the risk of birth defects. The lawsuit further charges Pfizer with failing to test the safety of using Zoloft during pregnancy.

Zoloft has been linked to numerous birth defects in several studies, including PPHN, heart defects, lung defects, limb defects and neural tube defects. A 2011 study indicated that children born to mothers who took SSRI antidepressants such as Zoloft, Prozac, Paxil and other were twice as likely to be diagnosed with autism or a related disorder. This risk increased by nearly 4-fold if the mother took the medication in the first trimester.

Many parents have filed and successfully won SSRI antidepressant birth defect lawsuit settlements to help them cover their vast medical expenses, which they claim are caused by the pharmaceutical companies’ inadequate drug warnings. If your child was born with a Zoloft birth defect, Prozac birth defect, Paxil birth defect, or other problem you believe was caused by taking a medication during pregnancy, a birth defect attorney can help you get the compensation you deserve.

If you would like more information about filing a birth defect lawsuit or birth defect class action lawsuit, go to the Zoloft, Paxil, Celexa, Lexapro & Prozac SSRI Antidepressant Birth Defect Class Action Lawsuit Investigation page to submit your information for a free consultation. Birth defect lawyers are actively investigating all claims of birth defects caused by these medications, including PPHN, cardiac defects, Autism, cranial birth defects, spina bifida, clubfoot, and more. These birth defect lawyers don’t get paid unless you do.

Updated August 30th, 2012

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