Zoloft Users 73% More Likely to Die Within a Year

By Top Class Actions | June 11, 2012

Category: Pharmaceuticals

Recent Antidepressant SSRI Study Showed SSRI & SNRI Users More Likely to Die than Others

By Scott Hardy

Zoloft Pill Bottles birth defect lawsuit lawyer

The Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) conducted a study which found that users of SNRI or SSRI antidepressant drugs were 73% more likely to die within one year of being treated in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU.) The study did not reach any conclusions regarding pregnant mothers who were admitted to the ICU after giving birth to a child with Zoloft or SSRI related birth defects.

The SSRI and SNRI study combed through 10,568 ICU patient records who were admitted to the ICU. During their research of ICU patient records they discovered that 1,876 of the 10,568 admitted took SSRI or SNRI antidepressant medication like Paxil or Zoloft. The researchers also found a “clear association” between SSRI or SNRI antidepressant medication and heart problems. Specifically, the study found that unsurprisingly those who had heart surgery or heart problems had a much higher risk of death within one year of being in the ICU than those without heart problems. Many Zoloft and antidepressant medication users have asserted a correlation between the drugs and heart problems but that has not been scientifically proven yet.

The study failed to include data about pregnant mothers who were admitted to the ICU, had taken an SSRI or SNRI medication while pregnant, and had a child born with birth defects. The study also didn’t include data on infants who were admitted to a neonatal ICU with birth defects that were exposed to Zoloft or another SSRI antidepressant drug while in the womb. Many Zoloft birth defect lawsuits tallege that the SSRI antidepressant drug may cause birth defects like Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension (PPHN), Atrial Septal Defects (ASD), ventricular septal defects (VSD), abdominal birth defects (omphalocele), cranial birth defects (craniosynotosis), aorta coarctation, hypoplastic right or left heart syndrome, transposition of the great arteries (TGA), tetralogy of fallot (TOF), spina bifida, Autism Spectrum Disorder and club feet. Unfortunately the study didn’t include data about infants admitted to the ICU who were exposed to SSRI or SNRI antidepressant medication while in utero.

Birth defects may be caused by many different medications (not just SSRI antidepressant drugs like Zoloft) if taken while pregnant and only an attorney and your doctor can determine if one of the medications taken during pregnancy may be responsible for the birth defect. Zoloft lawsuits often include information about a study by Pfizer that took place before Zoloft was approved by the FDA in 1991. Pfizer conducted animal trials which found that Zoloft caused severe side effects in animal fetuses. Though Pfizer knew of the risk of birth defects many Zoloft birth defect lawsuits allege that Pfizer did nothing to warn doctors and patients of the risks inherent in taking Zoloft while pregnant.

It would be interesting if the same team that conducted this study went through their data to find out how many infants that were admitted to the ICU with Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension (PPHN), Atrial Septal Defects (ASD), ventricular septal defects (VSD), abdominal birth defects (omphalocele), cranial birth defects (craniosynotosis), aorta coarctation, hypoplastic right or left heart syndrome, transposition of the great arteries (TGA), tetralogy of fallot (TOF), spina bifida or another birth defect were exposed to SSRI or SNRI antidepressant medication while in the womb. Parents filing Zoloft class action lawsuits need to know about their options. It’s important that those affected by Zoloft or any other antidepressant SSRI drug side effect speak with a qualified Zoloft attorney to determine what is best for them. This may be filing an individual Zoloft lawsuit against Pfizer, joining the Zoloft MDL or filing a Zoloft class action lawsuit. If your baby was born with a birth defect and you were taking Zoloft, another antidepressant SSRI drug like Paxil, or any another drug you should speak with an experienced Zoloft Birth Defect attorney.

If you would like more information about filing a Zoloft birth defect class action lawsuit, would like to contact a Zoloft birth defect attorney, or would like to file an individual Zoloft birth defect lawsuit just go to the Zoloft Birth Defect Class Action Lawsuit Investigation page. You can submit your information to attorneys who specialize in Zoloft related birth defect lawsuits, and other SSRI antidepressant drug birth defect lawsuits, that are actively investigating all claims regarding birth defects like Craniosynostosis, Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension (PPHN), Atrial Septal Defects (ASD), ventricular septal defects (VSD), abdominal birth defects (omphalocele), cranial birth defects (craniosynotosis), aorta coarctation, hypoplastic right or left heart syndrome, transposition of the great arteries (TGA), tetralogy of fallot (TOF), spina bifida, Autism, club feet and other problems which may be attributed to Zoloft or another anti-depressant (SSRI) drug taken while pregnant. It is Pfizer’s responsibility to properly warn users of their drugs of the possibility of severe birth defects and if you feel you were not warned of the risk of birth defects an attorney may be able to help. Contact a Zoloft birth defect attorney now.

Updated June 11th, 2012

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