Risk for heart defects and a potentially fatal hypertension increased in infants born to women prescribed the antidepressants

Infants born to mothers who were prescribed the antidepressant drugs Effexor and Zoloft during pregnancy face an increased risk of congenital heart defects and a dangerous condition known as persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN) of the newborn.

The Effexor and Zoloft lawyers of Carey, Danis & Lowe are investigating the potential for lawsuits throughout the United States on behalf of users of the antidepressants who gave birth to babies with heart defects or PPHN.

Zoloft, known generically as sertraline and classed as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, is made by Pfizer. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Zoloft for the treatment of several disorders:

• Depression
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Panic disorder
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Premenstrual dysphoric disorder

Effexor, or venlafaxine, is a serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. These drugs are similar but not identical to the SSRIs. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Effexor, which is made by Wyeth, to treat:

• Depression
• Generalized anxiety disorder
• Social anxiety disorder
• Panic disorder

Potential Side Effects of Zoloft and Effexor

The FDA categorizes Zoloft and Effexor as a class C drugs, meaning that they may or may not cause birth defects.

However, a 2009 Danish study conducted at Aarhus University Hospital found that women who filled prescriptions for SSRIs in the 30 days before conception and through the end of the first trimester had an increased risk of giving birth to a child with heart defects.

In July 2006 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a public health advisory warning that infants born to women who took prescribed SSRIs such as Zoloft during pregnancy had an increased risk of PPHN.

In persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn, the arteries to the newborn's lungs are constricted, reducing the amount of oxygen in the bloodstream. Even with treatment, the disorder may be fatal.

Contact Zoloft and Effexor Side Effect Attorneys

If you took Zoloft or Effexor while pregnant and delivered a baby with a heart defect or PPHN and you want to learn more about these lawsuits, contact Carey, Danis & Lowe by filling out our online contact form or calling 800-721-2519 toll free. We can help. Carey Danis & Lowe is a national law firm that represents individuals injured by America's largest corporations.