Schmidt & Clark, LLP continues to be contacted by women who used the antidepressant Zoloft (sertraline) during pregnancy and had a baby with a birth defect. Numerous studies have linked to Zoloft and birth defects, and over 300 Zoloft lawsuits have been filed. Many women accuse Pfizer of putting corporate profits above public safety by failing to warn about the risk of birth defects.
Free Zoloft Class Action Lawsuit Evaluation: If you or your loved one had a baby with a birth defect after taking Zoloft during pregnancy, contact our law firm immediately for a free case consultation. If you join a Zoloft class action or file a lawsuit, you could receive compensation for your child’s injury, medical expenses, and more.
What is Zoloft?
Zoloft (sertraline) is an antidepressant medication that has been sold by Pfizer Inc. since 1991. It belongs to a class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which treat psychiatric disorders by increasing levels of serotonin in the brain. It is used to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and more.
Zoloft and Pregnancy
Zoloft is “Pregnancy Category C,” which means that animal studies have shown harm to a fetus, but the risk in humans is unknown. During pregnancy, Zoloft is known to pass through the placenta and the baby’s blood-brain barrier. Experts know this because studies indicate that up to 30% of babies exposed to Zoloft through the third trimester are born with symptoms of withdrawal (agitation, tremors, high-pitched crying, convulsions, poor feeding and sleeping, and more).
Studies Linking Zoloft and Birth Defects
Numerous studies have associated Zoloft with an increased risk of birth defects, particularly heart defects and abdominal defects. These studies include:
Clinical Epidemiology (2010): Zoloft linked to an increased risk of “hole-in-the-heart” defects (also known as septal heart defects) septal heart defects.
British Medical Journal (2009): Zoloft linked to a 2.5-fold increased risk of septal heart defects.
New England Journal of Medicine (2007): Use of SSRIs during pregnancy was linked to a 2.4-fold increased risk of anencephaly, 2.5-fold increased risk of craniosynostosis, and a 2.8-fold increased risk of omphalocele.
New England Journal of Medicine (2007): Linked first-trimester use of Zoloft to a 2.4-fold increased risk of clubfoot, a 4.4-fold increased risk of anal atresia, and a 3.9-fold increased risk of a limb-reduction birth defect.
New England Journal of Medicine (2007): Zoloft linked to a 5.7-fold increased risk of omphalocele.
JAMA Psychiatry (2011): SSRIs linked to a 2.2-fold increased risk of Autism — 6.7% of autistic children were exposed to an SSRI, compared to 3.3% of non-autistic children.
FDA Warning for Zoloft and Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN)
In 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a Public Health Advisory about the link between Zoloft and Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN), a life-threatening lung defect that is fatal in 10% of cases. Zoloft and other SSRI antidepressants were associated with a six-fold increased risk of PPHN. However, in 2011, the FDA published an update after reviewing studies giving conflicting results linking antidepressants and PPHN.
Zoloft Lawsuits
Pharmaceutical companies have an obligation to warn women and their doctors about the risks of taking a medication during pregnancy. When they fail to do so, victims have a right to seek financial compensation for their injuries. Although filing a Zoloft lawsuit can never heal the devastating results of a serious birth defect, it can help you and your family pay for medical bills and future treatment of your child. In addition, you can have the satisfaction of holding a pharmaceutical company accountable for putting corporate profits over public safety.
Zoloft Lawsuits Centralized in Federal Litigation
If you decide to file a Zoloft lawsuit, you won’t be alone. Since April 2012, over 400 lawsuits have been filed in a federal Multi-District Litigation (MDL No. 2342) in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania: In Re: Zoloft (Sertraline Hydrochloride) Products Liability Litigation. All of the lawsuits allege that Zoloft causes birth defects in children when their mothers take the drug during pregnancy.
Zoloft Lawsuit Settlement Information
Women who filed lawsuits for birth defects caused by Paxil, an antidepressant that is similar to Zoloft, were awarded average settlements of $1.2 million per case, or $1 billion total. Pfizer is not currently settling Zoloft lawsuits; instead, lawyers will select certain cases for “bellwether” trials. However, Zoloft lawsuit settlements could be reached before trials begin.
Zoloft Birth Defects
Heart Defect
Septal Heart Defects
Atrial Septal Defect
Ventricular Septal Defect
Hole in the Heart
Tetralogy of Fallot
Pulmonary Atresia
Transposition of the great vessels
Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS)
Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome (HRHS)
Aortic Stenosis
Coarctation of the Aorta
Heart Murmur
Tricuspid Valve Atresia
Ebstein’s Anomaly
Truncus Arteriosus
Patent Ductus Arteriosus
Mitral Valve Prolapse
Abdominal Defects
Omphalocele
Gastroschisis
PPHN (Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn)
Skull Defect
Craniosynostosis
Neural Tube Defects
Spina Bifida
Anencephaly
Encephalocele
Hydranencephaly
Physical Malformations
Clubfoot
Hypoplasia
Limb Defects
Polydactyly
Cloacal Exstrophy
Esophageal Atresia
Esophageal Stenosis
Hypospadia
Undescended Testes
Anal Atresia
Seizure
Premature Birth
Neonatal Withdrawal
Cleft Lip
Cleft Palate
Intellectual Disability
Autism
Infant Death
Do I have a Zoloft Class Action Lawsuit?
The Product Liability & Defective Drug Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus on the representation of plaintiffs in Zoloft lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new cases in all 50 states.
Free Zoloft Class Action Lawsuit Evaluation: Again, if you or a loved one had a baby with a birth defect caused by Zoloft, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by joining a Zoloft class action lawsuit, or by filing a personal injury lawsuit and we can help.
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