Zoloft Linked to Brain and Spinal Cord Birth Defects
Birth Defects in Pregnant Women
Birth defects are a continual risk for women of child-bearing age who are prescribed Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)—such as Zoloft—for the treatment of their depression. Studies have shown that a woman taking SSRIs while pregnant might be putting her unborn child at risk of developing major birth defects, including malformations of the neural tube.
Zoloft Spinal Cord – The Neural Tube
When fetal development is in its early stages, the spinal cord rolls into a narrow tube—called the “neural tube”—which becomes the foundation for the developing child’s nervous system. If the cells fail to fuse together during development, the tube can be left with an opening that can cause serious, sometimes fatal complications. A mother who takes an SSRI while she is pregnant increases the likelihood that she will bear a child with a neural tube birth defect by 500 percent.
Spina Bifida – The Most Common Neural Tube Malformation
Spina bifida, a condition in which the vertebrae protecting the spinal cord do not fuse together, is the most common defect resulting from a neural tube malformation. In severe cases of spina bifida, the spinal cord may even protrude, leaving it completely unprotected.
Brain and Spinal Cord Surgery
This condition can be remedied through a surgery that fuses together the spine, but the success rate of the surgery depends heavily on how early the condition is diagnosed and how early the surgery is performed. It becomes much more difficult to fix spina bifida through surgery as a child ages. Because neural tube defects may form very early in fetal development, it is important for any woman of childbearing age who is prescribed Zoloft or any other SSRI to carefully monitor whether or not she is pregnant.
Speak to a Lawyer Today
If your child has suffered Zoloft birth defects, including but not limited to brain damage, you might be entitled to compensation. For a free consultation with an attorney from the Rottenstein Law Group, please fill out this brief contact form.
