Houston Zoloft Attorney
What You Need to Know About Zoloft
Zoloft is a widely used antidepressant medication that has been on the U.S. market since the early 1990s. The pharmaceutical is used to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic attacks, anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. However, Zoloft has also been associated with numerous harmful side effects – including life-threatening birth defects when consumed by pregnant women.
Zoloft is manufactured by the pharmaceutical giant, Pfizer. Along with its counterparts, Paxil and Prozac, Zoloft is officially classified as an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor). These medications play on the levels of serotonin produced in a person's brain by preventing serotonin, a neurotransmitter, from being reabsorbed in the brain, which creates a chemical imbalance that can help to improve one's mood. This is primarily because serotonin is helpful in mood regulation; however, the brain chemical also contributes to a person's digestive abilities, as well as their sleep, pain and mental functioning.
For many patients, the benefits of taking Zoloft and other SSRIs have been overshadowed by tragic complications, including an increased risk of suicide among adults and children. The signs may begin developing within a matter of weeks after starting on the medication. That being said, there are a number of side effects that negatively impact users of the drug, including:
- Nausea;
- Anxiety and tremors;
- Decreased sex drive;
- Headaches weight gain;
- Insomnia and restlessness;
- Fatigue; and
- Constipation
Adverse Zoloft Side Effects: Birth Defects
Since 2006, the FDA has warned of serious birth defects that have been discovered after women consumed Zoloft during pregnancy or while breastfeeding, including those that impact the healthy development of the infant's heart, cranium, lungs and abdominal organs such as:
- Atrial Septal Defect: A defect in the interatrial septum in the heart allows the dangerous mixing of oxygen-rich blood from the left side of the heart and oxygen-deficient blood from the right side.
- Tetralogy of Fallot: A disruption of blood flow through the pulmonary valve of the heart leads to low oxygenation of blood, resulting in symptoms that include feeding difficulty, inability to gain weight, stunted physical development, clubbing of toes and fingers and – in the worst cases – hypoxic brain injury and death.
- Transposition of the Great Vessels: A condition that involves abnormal spacing of the primary blood vessels, which may lead to changes in blood pressure and trigger other congenital birth defects, including atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect and patent ductus arteriosus.
- Hypoplastic Heart Syndrome: Either the left or right side of the heart is underdeveloped, which can affect the infant's skin, lips, fingernails and other parts of the body.
- Craniosynostosis: Sutures prematurely close, leading to problems with normal brain and skull growth. The three most common forms of are craniosynostosis are plagiocephaly (stunted growth of the brow and forehead), trigonocephaly (causing a marked ridge to run down the forehead) and scaphocephaly (causing a long, narrow skull to develop).
- Omphalocele: A child's abdominal organs stick out of the navel, including intestines, liver and spleen.
These potential Zoloft-related side effects may require expensive medical treatment, including open-heart surgery, as well as ongoing medication and therapy. The child may suffer disfigurement and health problems throughout life, exacting a significant if not devastating physical, emotional and financial toll on parents and other family members.
Houston Personal Injury Lawyer for Defective Drug Cases
At Arnold & Itkin LLP, our lawyers believe in taking an aggressive approach to protecting the rights of patients who have been harmed as the result of Zoloft-related difficulties, even though it may pit us against a large pharmaceutical company. We exhaustively research and investigate every case, including consulting with highly qualified medical experts. By investing our resources, hard work and dedication, we're confident in our ability to deliver successful results – whether it's a settlement at the negotiating table or a verdict in the courtroom. Our attorneys have tried cases in state and federal courts across the country, including several cases in which they have served on the steering committees in complex, multi-district litigation (MDL).
We strive to obtain compensation for our clients that will pay for their medical expenses, including surgeries, therapy and medication. We also seek funds that will cover our clients' lost wages and the pain and suffering they have endured as a result of Zoloft side effects, including the parents of children who have suffered birth defects. In these cases, there is a good chance that you could receive substantial financial compensation. The financial additions awarded to you will be made with the intent of compensating the medical treatments necessary to properly attend to your child after certain types of congenital defects.
Contact a Zoloft injury attorney from our firm!
Birth defects from Zoloft and other antidepressants are sensitive issues and they should not be addressed without the legal advice and support of a professional. A
Houston personal injury attorney from Arnold & Itkin LLP can help you attend to the legal complications that have come about from Zoloft enhanced birth defects or Zoloft side effects. Whether you want to settle your case in or out of court, our experience has prepared us for whatever your needs may be. Antidepressants are meant to help the lives of those who may be emotionally struggling, not further add to one's distress. If you have been wrongfully harmed by taking the medications prescribed to you then do not hesitate to take legal action.
Contact a Houston pharmaceutical litigation lawyer today to schedule your free case evaluation.