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10 Couples File Zoloft Lawsuits Against Pfizer for Birth Defects
By Andrea Gressman
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The expansion of the Zoloft lawsuit MDL regarding Zoloft birth defects continues. It was created in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in April 2012. Originally it was only 57 Zoloft birth defect lawsuits, but it has since increased to 157 Zoloft lawsuits as of September 2012. A Zoloft class action lawsuit involving 10 couples was recently filed against Pfizer, seeking to hold Pfizer accountable for birth defects caused by the SSRI antidepressant.
Zoloft Birth Defects Cause Children to Suffer Long-Term Side Effects
Each of the 10 couples in the Zoloft class action lawsuit had children suffer from birth defects following Zoloft use, which the mothers took while pregnant. Some of the Zoloft birth defects listed in the lawsuit include the following:
* Pulmonary stenosis
* Atrial septic defects
* Cleft lip
* Cleft palate
* Delays in bodily development
* As well as numerous other defects of the heart and body
Parents Filed Zoloft Birth Defect Lawsuits in State Court
Along with the plethora of other parents filing Zoloft birth defect lawsuits against Pfizer, these couples have also decided to join in. The Zoloft MDL has many Zoloft lawsuits already underway. However, others seem to be held up in state courts. For example, a Texas couple sued Pfizer claiming the mother took Zoloft during pregnancy, which directly caused the heart defects present in their child.
Ohio parents also sued, saying that the SSRI antidepressant made by Pfizer resulted in anencephaly in their infant son. Anencephaly is a birth defect in which a large part of the brain is missing as a result of a defect of the neural tube. Tragically, only 18 hours following birth, the boy passed away.
FDA Gives Warnings Regarding the Pregnancy Side Effects of Zoloft
Zoloft was approved in 1991 by the FDA to treat depression. Later, the FDA gave approval for its treatment of obsessive-compulsive and panic disorders.
A warning was issued, however, by the FDA in regards to a possible connection between Zoloft and other antidepressants being linked to thoughts of suicide and actions in kids and young adults. A black box warning was mandatory regarding this potential danger, and in 2005, the warning included adults who were susceptible to the same adverse side effects of Zoloft.
The initial warning concerning Zoloft and its link to birth defects was issued in 2006 by the FDA. This made potential consumers and the medical community aware of the dangers and elevated risk of high blood pressure in infants of mothers who used Zoloft while pregnant. This warning raised concern about using Zoloft and other antidepressants and these possible pregnancy side effects. At that time, advocacy groups began to urge those with children suffering from Zoloft birth defects to find a Zoloft lawsuit attorney with experience in Zoloft birth defects lawsuits for sound and helpful advice.
Concern continued to increase after more studies have been done about the link between SSRI antidepressants like Zoloft, Paxil, Celexa, Lexapro and Prozac and birth defects. It was noted in 2010 in the American Journal of Nursing that it is highly likely that the child of a mother using Zoloft or other antidepressants will suffer from very dangerous and potentially fatal heart defects. There are many other injuries that are associated with the drug. A few of them are omphalocele, craniosynostosis, as well those mentioned above.
If you have a child that has experienced a birth defect as a result of Zoloft, please do not delay in contacting an experienced Zoloft lawsuit attorney. Visit the Zoloft, Paxil, Celexa, Lexapro & Prozac SSRI Antidepressant Birth Defect Class Action Lawsuit Investigation to learn more about your options. They are currently investigating Zoloft side effects, including pulmonary stenosis, atrial septic defects, cleft lip, cleft palate, delays in bodily development, as well as many other birth defects.
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Updated October 16th, 2012
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All medical device, dangerous drug and medical class action and lawsuit news updates are listed in the Drug and Medical Device section of Top Class Actions.
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