Posted October 5, 2011 by Beasley Allen
A Cleveland, Ohio, couple is suing the makers of the antidepressant Zoloft, alleging use of the drug during pregnancy caused their newborn baby to die shortly after birth from a serious birth defect of the brain and spinal cord. Susan and James Hodge filed the Zoloft lawsuit against Pfizer and Cardinal Health in Cuyahoga Court of Common Pleas, alleging the drug companies knew the antidepressant could cause fatal neural tube birth defects but covered up studies that documented the dangers.
The Hodges baby was born with a defect known as anencephaly, in which a large part of the brain and skull are missing. The condition is almost always fatal.
Zoloft is an antidepressant in a drug class known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). Other drugs in this class include Paxil, Celexa, Lexapro and Prozac. Almost all SSRIs are classified as Category C drugs, meaning that there is not enough evidence to determine whether the drugs cause birth defects.
Paxil is the only SSRI that is not classified as a Category C drug. It was recently reclassified as a Category D drug, meaning the drug has been proven to cause birth defects in humans and should only be used if the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks. The reclassification of Paxil was the result of new studies that showed the drug increased the risk of heart, brain, spinal cord and lung defects in newborns if used during pregnancy.
The Hodges claim Zoloft carries similar dangers and that before Susan Hodges began taking the drug Pfizer knew of the serious birth defects associated with Zoloft use during pregnancy from preclinical studies and subsequent published studies. Despite this, they say, Pfizer took no action to adequately warn consumers of the potential risks. Instead, the company took measures to conceal the dangers, their lawsuit alleges.
The Hodges are seeking punitive damages for product liability, negligence, fraud, breach of warranty, unjust enrichment, false adverting, and wrongful death.
Paxil Birth Defects : Paxil Lawsuit : Paxil Settlements
Zoloft Birth Defects : Zoloft Lawsuit : Zoloft Settlements
Lexapro Birth Defects : Lexapro Lawsuit : Lexapro Settlements
