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Zoloft® – a trade-name of Sertraline - is a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant that was introduced in 1991 by Pfizer. Sertraline is primarily used as a form of treatment for adults diagnosed with severe depression. It can also be used to combat and lessen the symptoms and effects of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD); as well as panic-disorders, and social-anxiety disorders in adults and children. In 2007, Zoloft® was the most prescribed antidepressant in the United States. Zoloft® Drug The side-effects that have been most commonly associated with the Zoloft® drug and Sertraline-based products can include any of the following: - Insomnia
- Diarrhea
- A decrease in libido
- A complete lack of sex-drive
Far more serious side-effects have been associated with Zoloft®, however, including Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN); birth defects; and Serotonin Syndrome. In 2006, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) circulated an alert stating that the use of Zoloft® during pregnancy by mothers of babies diagnosed with with a potentially-fatal condition known as Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN), demonstrated major concerns. Babies diagnosed with PPHN have abnormal blood-flow through their heart and lungs – which can lead to both sickness and death. The findings of the study in question showed that those babies who were born to mothers prescribed Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI’s) - which is the category of medicines to which Zoloft® belongs - 20 weeks or later during the course of their pregnancies, had approximately a 6-times elevated risk of having PPHN than those babies born to mothers who were not taking antidepressants during their pregnancies. According to the FDA: The uncommon potential risk to the newborn of PPHN has not been confirmed by additional studies. Uncertainty about these rare events and their potential impact on the newborn, along with the potential risk to the mother of recurring depression if she stops her antidepressant medicines during pregnancy, makes decisions about the treatment of depression in pregnant women especially challenging for health care professionals and patients. Women who are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant should not stop any antidepressant without first consulting their physician. The decision to continue medication or not should be made only after there has been careful consideration of the potential benefits and risks of the medication for each individual pregnant patient. If the decision is made to stop treatment with SSRIs before or during pregnancy, this should be done with a healthcare professional, according to the prescribing information for the drug, and patients should be observed closely in case their depression comes back. In addition, also in 2006, the FDA announced that a serious and life-threatening condition called Serotonin Syndrome (how the brain, muscles and digestive system react to high levels of serotonin) can develop when Zoloft® is used alongside other forms of medication known as 5-Hydroxytryptamine Receptor Agonists - which are designed for the treatment of migraine. The signs and symptoms of Serotonin Syndrome may include any of the following: - Coma
- Hallucinations
- Loss of coordination
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Raised body temperature
- Potentially serious changes in blood pressure
If You Have Been Injured by Zoloft® Have you or a loved one been injured after taking Zoloft®?
We are particularly interested in speaking to those who may have been injured as a result of taking Zoloft during preganancy, with resulting potential Zoloft-related Birth Defects at issue. If so, contact DrugRxRecall to speak with an experienced Zoloft® lawyer who specializes in drug recall litigation & lawsuits. Let DrugRxRecall help you win the compensation you need and deserve. 
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