Antidepressant Drugs Causing Severe Birth Injuries

Drugs and other medical products sometimes suffer from several defects, including design, manufacturing, problems with the testing of the drug or device, inadequate warnings or instructions for use, problem with the doctor's prescription or incorrect distribution by the pharmacist etc any of which may cause serious injuries including adverse side effects and life-threatening reactions. One of the most significant drug side effects is the Zoloft birth defects. Many women using this antidepressant during pregnancy are keen to give birth to a child with such birth defects.

These antidepressant drugs, like Paxil, Zoloft and Prozac which are also referred to as serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), may cause several established side effects for the unborn child including the increased risk of premature birth, breathing problems, gastrointestinal side effects and motor problems. Pregnant women taking these drugs can expose their baby to the medication while in the womb leading to the development of a Zoloft birth defect. However the exact degree of risk of Zoloft birth defects is currently unknown, but the increasing complications in babies have been genuinely reported.

It is utterly depressing for the parents to see their newborn suffer from Zoloft birth defects. Women and their families are being more informed by several medical studies and public awareness about the antidepressant drug Zoloft which has been widely prescribed to help treat depression. If any child suffers from such birth defects, then its parents are entitled to file a lawsuit against the manufacturer on behalf of their child. The parents must then seek the guidance of a professional lawyer handling birth defects lawsuits to evaluate their claims. It is highly required that the parents know about their medical rights and if needed, fight for justice. Many law firms have come forward to help these grief-stricken parents by discussing with them about their legal rights in their case and claim of compensation. The pharmaceutical companies can be held responsible for the side effects of their products. For that the victim’s family should collaborate with birth injury attorneys, to file a class action lawsuit.

They may be entitled to reimbursement for the injuries and medical expenses through filing a class action lawsuit. Undoubtedly such litigation is not quite an easy process, but it might be sorted with the help of a qualified Zoloft side effect lawyer.

In 2004, the FDA launched a warning program for potential mothers regarding taking certain types of antidepressant medication during the late third trimester of their pregnancy. It enlightened the fact that physicians may want to taper women off SSRI drugs in the third trimester to help prevent the child from being exposed to the medication while in the womb and potentially developing birth defects. Afterwards, the antidepressant labels were changed and it included some additional information and stronger warnings that suggested exposure to the medication in the first trimester of pregnancy may be linked with a higher risk of Zoloft birth defects involving cardiac problems.

Patients rely upon such medication and so it becomes the sole responsibility of the medical device manufacturers to properly formulate and test these drugs before they approve these to be used by consumers, which unfortunately they fail to do quite often.