Birth Injury Attorney
Zoloft and Antidepressants’ Effect on Pregnancy
An ideal condtiton for pregnancy cannot always be attained by childbearing women. Sometimes, situations arise that need immediate attention and medical treatment. In cases when a pregnant patient is diagnosed to have mood disorders or depression, a doctor may give her medication to address this problem. Such medicine would be in the form of drug called Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) like Zoloft, which is also found to link to miscarriage among pregnant women.
Patients who suffer from disorders such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, social anxiety disorder, and panic attacks are prescribed Zoloft by doctors. Zoloft is a widely popular antidepressant and is manufactured by Pfizer. However, there are emerging studies that link this drug to several birth defects in newborns born to women who took this medicine during pregnancy.
Reports saying that Zoloft causes congenital heart defects among newborns give a cause for concern to pregnant users of this drug. Congenital heart defects (CHD) are abnormalities in the heart which occur at birth. The National Institutes of Health reported that congenital heart defects cause more deaths in a person’s first year than any other birth defects. The cause is believed to be linked to genetic disorders but most causes of CHD remain unknown. In the early weeks of pregnancy, when there is abnormal or incomplete development of the fetus’ heart, congenital heart defects usually happen.
An article in the British Medical Journal published in September 2009 reports of women who take antidepressants in their first trimester were two times more likely to give birth to newborns with heart defects than normal. A study which was published in 2010 in the American Journal of Nursing also had a similar conclusion which puts developing fetuses at a risk of acquiring heart defects, namely atrial septal defects and ventricular septal defects.
Zoloft is classified by the U.S. FDA to be possibly harmful to the fetus yet the benefits is provides is substantial over its potential risks. It is still best to consult a doctor regarding treatment if you or someone you know is pregnant while taking this drug. It is ill-advised to abruptly stop taking medication which was prescribed to you. Your doctor might find for you a better alternative to Zoloft.
If you think that you or a loved one have been affected by the side effects that Zoloft inflicts, have a talk with an experienced product liability lawyer to discuss legal options. You may have a free consultation if you wish to know whether you have a valid claim against manufacturers of these defective products.
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