Zoloft® (sertraline) is a prescription medication used to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic attacks, posttraumatic stress disorder and social anxiety disorder. The drug also is used to ease the symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder. This condition is characterized by mood swings, irritability, bloating and breast tenderness.

Zoloft® Birth Defect Risk

Zoloft® belongs to a class of medications known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). SSRIs have been linked to an increase in the risk of birth defects when taken during pregnancy. Some of the birth defects that are believed to be associated with SSRI antidepressants include:

• Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN)
• Septal heart defects
• Heart valve defects
• Omphalocele, an abdominal wall defect
• Cranial defects
• Limb reduction defects

Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN)

A retrospective (looking backwards over events that have already occurred) study of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) showed that mothers taking these drugs were six times more likely to have babies born with PPHN compared to mothers who did not take SSRIs during their pregnancies.

PPHN occurs soon after birth. In a newborn with PPHN, the lungs do not assume their normal function and the baby's blood flow bypasses the lungs and the blood does not get the oxygen it needs to nourish the bodies' tissues and organs. Then the brain, kidneys, liver and other organs do not get the oxygen they need and they become stressed. PPHN usually resolves on its own. In some infants, however, the situation is more serious and might require more treatment and intensive care.

Septal Heart Defects

A septal heart defect is sometimes called a hole in the baby's heart. It is a malformation in the septum (wall) that separates the right from the left side of the heart. The defect causes the heart to have to work harder to pump blood to the body. These defects sometimes get better by themselves, but sometimes they require surgery.

According to researchers, babies that are exposed to Zoloft® during the first three months of development have an increased risk of developing septal heart defects. SSRIs have been linked to an increase in the risk of other heart defects as well, including valve defects and tetralogy of fallot.

Omphalocele

An omphalocele is a birth defect in which some of the baby's abdominal organs stick out of the navel (belly button). The organs are covered with a thin layer of tissue. Omphaloceles may be small, with only a portion of the intestine protruding or they can be very large, and other organs such as the liver and spleen may also stick out.

Contact a Zoloft® Lawyer

If you were treated with Zoloft® during your pregnancy and your child was born with a birth defect, you may be eligible to seek financial compensation. To learn more, contact a defective drug attorney today.