In a lawsuit against the makers of the drug Zoloft, experts are citing links between ingestion of the drug and birth defects involving the heart. Among other conditions, infants whose mothers took Zoloft while pregnant show a higher risk of giving birth to children with tetralogy of fallot.
Tetralogy of fallot is a combination of four heart defects present at one time during a baby’s birth. As a result of these conditions, blood leaving the heart and flowing to the rest of the body is low in oxygen. Because of the lack of oxygen in their blood, babies with tetralogy of fallot often have blue-tinted skin.
Other symptoms of tetralogy of fallot include poor eating habits, slow weight gain and poor physical development, and episodes of fainting. Babies with the condition may also show clubbing of the fingers, meaning the skin and bone around the fingernails is enlarged.
Tetralogy of fallot often requires one or more correctional surgeries. Prognosis after surgery is good, but left untreated, the condition can lead to early death.
Zoloft is one of a variety of antidepressant drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs. It is typically prescribed for depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, stress and anxiety disorders, and panic attacks.
If you or someone you know took Zoloft during pregnancy and gave birth to a child with tetralogy of fallot or other birth defects, contact us to see if you are eligible to pursue a Zoloft lawsuit. We would like to offer you a free case evaluation to help you seek the compensation you deserve.