Zoloft is an extremely popular antidepressant medication that is used to treat psychological ailments. It is an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) medication that is created by a pharmaceutical mega company called Pfizer. Pfizer also manufactures Paxil and Prozac, to other popular SSRIs. Among other uses, Zoloft is prescribed to people who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic attacks, premenstrual dysphonic disorder, anxiety attacks, and depression.
It has been used since the 1990s, but in recent years patients have started to notice the adverse effects of the medicine. While many are reliant to Zoloft to maintain social graces and keep their emotions in control, more research by the Food and Drug Administration has shown that this medication is dangerous, especially for pregnant women and their unborn babies.
Zoloft and other SSRI medications play with the amount of serotonin that is produced in a person's brain. The serotonin is a neurotransmitter, and when it is present at an unbalanced rate it can cause mood swings and bring on psychological medical conditions. By balancing the serotonin, Zoloft is able to help patients achieve a chemical balance and maintain a light-hearted mood. This helps in keeping a person from falling pretty to diagnosed mental illnesses, but the chemical will also affect a person's digestive tract and their sleep, pain reception, and mental function.
People who take Zoloft may suffer from nausea, anxiety and tremors, and fatigue because of the medicine. It can also result in a decreased sex drive, insomnia, restfulness, constipation, headaches, and sudden weight gain. As well, those on Zoloft have an increased risk for suicide in some cases, and the drug has been a factor in many suicides in the past. While all of these complications can be major concerns, the most dangerous aspect of Zoloft is how it affects pregnant women. While some doctors may claim that the medication is safe for pregnant women, this is not accurate.
The FDA warned of the serious risk of birth defects associated with Zoloft as far back as 2006. Mothers who took the medication while pregnant or breastfeeding put their babies at risk and hampered the healthy development of the baby's crucial organs. Babies born to mothers who have consumed Zoloft regularly have suffered from a variety of different illnesses, including atrial septal defect. This is a defect of the interatrial septum in the heart which allows the oxygen-rich blood on one side of the heart to mix with the oxygen-deficient blood on the other side. This can be fatal in some situations.
As well, babies who are born to mothers who took Zoloft are at risk to hypoplastic heart syndrome. This happens when the left or the right side of the heart is underdeveloped. As a result, the child may have oddly shaped or developed skin, fingernails, lips, and other parts of the body. As well, babies can suffer from omphalocele which will cause a child's abdominal organs to stick out of the navel. While this can often be corrected with surgery, there are times that a child may die from the illness.
Some babies suffer from craniosynostosis after their mothers consume Zoloft, which happens when the sutures in the head close too quickly and cause the brain to develop in an odd manner. Sometimes babies will have a stunted growth of the brow, or a marked ridge will run across the front of the forehead. As well, sometimes babies will be born with a long and narrow skull because of this condition. There can also be problems with the pulmonary valve of the heart of the blood vessels. If your baby was born with a birth defect because of Zoloft, you may have the right to seek compensation. You can litigate against a doctor who insisted the medication would not harm your baby, or against the pharmaceutical company. Talk to the firm today for more information!