Zoloft is a medication that belongs to the drug class SSRIS. Developed and manufactured by Pfizer in 1990, Zoloft was released in the U.S. nine years after its release in the UK. By 2005, Zoloft was one of the most popularly prescribed antidepressants on the U.S. market with almost 30 million prescriptions written. Grossing $2.6 billion, it was also the sixth most prescribed brand-name prescription medication in 2005. Since its launch, Zoloft has brought in over $30 billion in revenue.
Prescribed for depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, social anxiety disorder and premenstrual dysphonic disorder, it has been known to cause many side effects.
Users of Zoloft have complained about insomnia, dizziness, nausea, skin rashes, headaches, diarrhea, loss of appetite, abnormal ejaculation, dry mouth and weight loss. Zoloft used during pregnancy can also cause birth defects. Other side effects include:
You can get a more complete list of side effects
In July 2006, the FDA released two alerts related to Zoloft. The first alert was about the use of antidepressant medicines causing birth defects. The second alert was about the life-threatening condition known as serotonin syndrome which can occur when Zoloft and medicines used to treat migraine headaches (called 5-hydroxltryptamine receptor agonists) are taken together.
After many patients babies were born with birth defects, a number of lawsuits were filed against Pfizer. These lawsuits have claimed that Pfizer did not offer adequate warnings about the risks associated with Zoloft. Birth defects that have been caused by Zoloft include holes in the heart, cleft palate, club feet, spina bifida, skull defects, Down’s syndrome, undescended testes in males, blindness, hernia, malformations and persistent pulmonary hypertension of a newborn. Other birth defects have included:
Some birth defects have been fatal. In 2005, a Danish study showed that infants exposed to SSRIs during the first trimester had a 60% higher chance of developing congenital heart defects. According to Fox News, as of April 2013 there are over 330 pending lawsuits at the U.S. District Court for Zoloft birth defects alone.
Parents of children who have suffered from these injuries experience intense heartache and mental anguish. As a result, many are filing lawsuits for medical damages, lost wages and pain and suffering. In many cases juries may award punitive damages as well.
The FDA released the evaluation of 372 studies of 100,000 patients on 11 antidepressants. These studies showed there was an elevated risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors among adults aged 18 to 25. A lawsuit filed against Pfizer states that Zoloft is no more effective at treating depression than a sugar pill. It is suspected that Zoloft has contributed to over 700 cases of suicidal thinking and over 500 completed suicides.
At The Carlson Law Firm, we can help you and your family fight for the compensation you deserve. We can explain your rights to you and will put a 100% of our resources into your case. Pfizer is one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies and it must be held accountable for the harm it has caused to many innocent patients.
Only an attorney that has previously worked on these types of cases is qualified to represent you. At The Carlson Law Firm we have the reputation you can trust! We have secured millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements over the years. We have also achieved an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale Hubbell® and some of our staff members have been named to the list of Texas Super Lawyers. For a complimentary consultation, contact our team today!and some of our staff members have been named to the list of Texas Super Lawyers®. For a complimentary consultation, contact our team today!