Zoloft Linked to Craniosynostosis Birth Defect

Most discussions of Zoloft (sertraline) birth defects center on cardiovascular ones, particularly septal heart defects. The drug causes other significant birth defects, however, such as a skull defect called “craniosynostosis.” This means the sutures between the skull plates fail to fuse together properly after birth. The results can alter the growth trajectory of the skull, creating an odd cranial shape with abnormal facial features to accommodate the braincase, which doctors also sometimes characterize as “macrocephaly” (enlarged skull). A child with this condition can suffer severe intracranial pressure that can cause blindness and severe mental retardation. Doctors can ease the negative effects of craniosynostosis through surgery.

Two studies published in the June 28, 2007 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine link Zoloft to skull defects. The first, led by Carol Louik, is titled “First-Trimester Use of Selective Serotonin-Reuptake Inhibitors and the Risk of Birth Defects.” The second, conducted by Sura Alwan and her colleagues, is titled “Use of Selective Serotonin-Reuptake Inhibitors in Pregnancy and the Risk of Birth Defects.” Louik’s group pulled data from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study, and Alwan’s group used data from the Slone Epidemiology Center Birth Defects Study.

Both studies included women who used Zoloft and both linked the drug to craniosynostosis. Alwan’s article reported that mothers who used SSRIs in their first trimester were 2.5 times as likely to give birth to infants with craniosynostosis. Louik’s article found a lower odds ratio of SSRI-caused craniosynostosis (0.8 times), but singled out Zoloft for its unusually high odds ratio for causing Zoloft skull defects (1.8 times).

These findings demonstrate that Zoloft can cause skull defects in infants born to mothers who take the antidepressant in their first trimester of pregnancy. If you took Zoloft in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy and you gave birth to a child who developed craniosynostosis or macrocephaly, you may be eligible for compensation. The Rottenstein Law Group is currently offering a free, confidential consultation to all parents or guardians of children born with Zoloft skull defects. All you have to do is click on this link or fill out our contact form to the right. One of our Zoloft attorneys will contact you as soon as possible.