- articlesnatch

11/29/2011 - The antidepressant medicine Zoloft, which is formulated by Pfizer, has once again been condemned for allegedly causing a harmful side effect that led to an infants death. In October 11, a Missouri couple filed a lawsuit against Pfizer after their child died from alleged Zoloft-attributed birth defect, Tetralogy of Fallot, a couple of years ago. It was an atrial septal heart defect that was allegedly caused by the intake of Zoloft during her pregnancy.

This is not a first lawsuit for Pfizer regarding Zoloft side effects. Reports about the various harmful side effects of the drug include:

Suicidal thoughts and behavior
Sleeping problems
Eating disorders
Nausea
Diarrhea
Constipation
Unusual fatigue
Decreased libido
Ejaculation problems
Migraine
Physical pain
Unusual mood shifts
Personality changes
Hallucination
Memory loss
Decreased concentration and coordination

Some of these side effects are generally minor that medical attention is rarely needed. On the other hand, the drug has also serious side effects that require you to act on it immediately.

A major severe Zoloft side effect was recognized in cases in which several pregnant women were given this drug during the first trimester of pregnancy; the newborn babies ended up with congenital birth injuries and their moms had withdrawal symptoms that remained for days, weeks or even years after birth. Cardiovascular malformations in infants usually happen when the mother took Zoloft during the first trimester of pregnancy, during which the babys heart was still developing in the womb. The following are other reported Zoloft birth defects:

Miscarriage
Persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN)
Enlarged heart
Delayed development
Cleft lip or palate
Clubbed foot
Craniosyntosis (skull deformation)
Kidney and lung problems
Gastorchisis

In July 2011, Cable News Network (CNN) featured a research by Lisa Croen, director of autism research at Kaiser Permanente Northern California. She discovered that babies who were exposed to antidepressants during the first trimester of their mothers' pregnancy were almost four times as prone to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) than those babies who were not. Her summary of findings: taking antidepressants during pregnancy may cause child autism.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued public health advisories cautioning doctors and patients about Zolofts tendency to increase suicidal thoughts and risks of birth defects. The affected patients of Pfizer should seek legal advice regarding a potential Zoloft lawsuit.

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com

Under no circumstances should you discontinue taking any medication, including SSRI's, without first consulting with your doctor.

If you or a loved one have experienced Paxil Side Effects, Zoloft Side Effects, or Effexor Side Effects such as birth defects or suicide you may be entitled to compensation. Contact the Paxil attorneys of Ennis & Ennis today for a free confidential case evaluation. Our on staff nurse and lawyers are standing by to answer any questions you may have regarding SSRI side effects, a possible Paxil class action lawsuit, or any other type of SSRI litigation. Call us toll-free at: 1.800.856.6405 or fill out the free case evaluation form on this page.