Study: Zoloft side effects put newborns at risk.
Infants born to mothers who were treated with Zoloft during their pregnancy are at risk of having birth defects as a serious side effect of the antidepressant drug according to several studies.
The Pfizer, Inc.-manufactured Zoloft is a selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI) which increases serotonin levels in the brain, an effective treatment for disorders. Zoloft has been approved to treat patients 18 years old and above of depression, social anxiety disorder, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic disorder, premenstrual dyphoric disorder (PMDD); and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) among patients aged 6-17 years old by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
However, studies conducted over the years reveal serious developmental birth defects, a potentially life-threatening lung disorder, and increased risks in premature and stillbirths as possible side effects of Zoloft and other antidepressant drugs on newborns whose mothers took the drug during their pregnancy. Studies have linked Zoloft to a developmental birth defect wherein an infant is born with parts of its intestines outside the abdominal wall known as “Omphalocele”. It is also said to cause anencephaly wherein a baby is missing a large part of its brain and craniosynostosis wherein an infant has problems with the normal growth of its brain and skull, two brain development defects in infants, according to another study.
A 2006 study by the University of California at San Diego also showed a significant increase in the incidence of persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN) which is fatal in about 20 cases. Infants who survived from the PPHN may not be as fortunate as it would need mechanical aids to breathe and may suffer developmental delays, hearing loss and brain abnormalities.
The FDA issued a report on the study of infants with PPHN but stop short of requiring warnings about birth defects on any antidepressant drug except Paxil. In response to various studies that linked Zoloft to serious side effects on infants, the FDA had issued warnings for the benefit of the mothers.
Despite the FDA-issued warnings, pregnant women are advised against the abrupt discontinuation of the medication as they may suffer withdrawal symptoms after giving birth. It is best for pregnant women to consult with their doctors first and discuss the risks the medication may pose to their newborns.