Zoloft Side Effects Hurt Son, Mother Says in Birth Defect Lawsuit

Zoloft is one of the most popular antidepressants in the U.S., and Moore had been on the drug for years. Moore says in the Zoloft lawsuit that when found out she was pregnant with her son “MM” that her doctor didn’t know the antidepressant could cause birth defects, and recommended she didn’t change her prescription. Prior to birth, however, she was informed that her son has only one umbilical artery and an echogenic bowel.

MM was born on February 11, 2010, and was diagnosed with perimembranous ventricular septal defect and bilateral inguinal hernia. Moore alleges in the Zoloft lawsuit that these congenital defects were directly caused by her use of Zoloft during pregnancy. She claims Pfizer has known about these potential Zoloft side effects prior to the drug’s approval but, to this date, has not warned expecting mothers about these risks.

Moore filed her Zoloft lawsuit on July 18, 2013, in California three years after MM was born. She’s suing Pfizer on behalf of her son and herself with the help of a Zoloft birth defect lawyer.

A Controversial History of Zoloft Side Effects

The preclinical trials for Zoloft weren’t the only time the SSRI drug demonstrated a link between pregnancy usage and birth defects. Numerous studies in recent years have also strengthened the connection between Zoloft and birth defects. A 2007 study indicated women who took Zoloft while pregnant faced an 80-percent higher risk of having babies with a certain type of birth defect.

Moore’s Zoloft lawsuit accuses Pfizer of suppressing information about Zoloft side effects by “ghostwriting” letters to be placed in key journals, promoting only positive study outcomes, and crafting marketing messages to persuade pregnant women to use Zoloft.

The Zoloft Lawsuit Charges

Moore says in her Zoloft lawsuit that her son MM required surgery in April 2010, when he was just two months old, to repair his Zoloft birth defects. Moore is heartbroken that Pfizer still touts Zoloft as a safe drug for pregnant women. MM needed another surgery that July at five months old, which resulted in seven days of post-operative hospitalization.

Moore’s son “continues to suffer physically and emotionally from this birth defect” caused by Zoloft, her lawsuit states. Moore says he has been and will be deprived of having a normal childhood. He’s “endured substantive medical care, procedures and treatments as a result of this defect.”

Of course, Moore also continues to suffer from her son’s birth defects, and it’s nearly impossible for any mother to not blame herself — even though Pfizer didn’t warn doctors or patients about the Zoloft risks. She’s also seen medical bills piling up that are becoming unmanageable.

Zoloft lawsuit plaintiffs like Moore allege Pfizer knew or should have known about the pregnancy complications of Zoloft. Even prior to Zoloft’s 1991 approval, preclinical animal studies indicated “significant harm” to animal fetuses when exposed to Zoloft. Moore claims Pfizer “knew about these adverse side effects, yet without further testing (they) began marketing and selling” Zoloft to pregnant women.

Moore has filed a Zoloft lawsuit claiming breach of warranty, negligence, strict liability, fraud, and unjust enrichment. She claims the company “failed to exercise reasonable care in the design, manufacture, testing, processing, marketing, advertising, labeling, packaging, rebranding, distribution and/or sale” of the drug.

Her Zoloft lawsuit lawyer also accuses Pfizer of failure to use care in designing Zoloft, failure to advise consumers about the risks, and failure to advise medical staff and communities in the complaint.

Moore is demanding a trial by jury and hopes other mothers-to-be won’t suffer as she and her son MM have — and will continue to suffer. Having a child with Zoloft birth defects is a lifelong heartbreak. Had Moore known about the risks, she never would have bet those odds.

The case is Norma Moore et al., v. Greenstone, LLC and Pfizer, Case No. 2:13-cv-04176-CMR, U.S. District Court Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Did You Give Birth to a Child with Zoloft Birth Defects?

Did you have a “Zoloft baby,” or did you suffer birth defects because your mother took Zoloft while pregnant? You may have a legal claim and be eligible to seek compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and more. Find out more at the Zoloft, Paxil, Celexa, Lexapro, Depakote & Prozac SSRI Antidepressant Birth Defect Class Action Lawsuit Investigation. You’ll get a chance to submit your Zoloft story. If you have a case, a birth defect lawyer will be in touch for your free Zoloft lawsuit review.