Zoloft Use Linked to Cleft Palate, Cleft Lip Birth Defect

The use of SSRIs such as Zoloft during pregnancy (especially during the crucial first trimester) has been linked to birth defects, including cleft lip and cleft palate. In 2006, the FDA issued a warning about a number of birth defects, including a cleft lip and cleft palate, associated with Zoloft use during pregnancy.

Zoloft, also known as generically as sertraline hydrochloride and sometimes sold as Lustral, is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class of antidepressant introduced to the market by Pfizer in 1991. It is typically prescribed to treat depression and obsessive-compulsive, post-traumatic stress and social anxiety disorders. Zoloft also is used to relieve the symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder.

A cleft lip or a cleft palate is a birth defect that can affect the lip or upper roof of the mouth, respectively. In certain severe cases it can even affect the nose. This occurs during fetal development, typically during the first trimester as the child’s facial features are forming. Regardless of which part of the oral area the cleft affects, the defect may require several surgeries, regular speech therapy and expensive orthodontic work throughout childhood.

The process of demanding compensation for the harm you’ve suffered (caused by a defective product manufactured by a blameworthy company) can be complicated, even if it doesn’t seem fair that you should have to go through even more trouble to be made whole again. The Zoloft lawyers at the Rottenstein Law Group believe that getting satisfaction from the company that harmed you shouldn’t be just more hardship. That’s why we do everything we can to streamline the process, and we will file a Zoloft lawsuit on your behalf if necessary. If you have taken Zoloft and experienced adverse side effects, contact RLG today.