Zoloft May Not be Safe for Pregnant Women

Use of the wrong antidepressant during pregnancy can lead to devastating birth injuries.

2011-12-29

December 29, 2011 (Press-News.org) Pregnant women often go to great lengths to provide a healthy environment for their developing babies. From avoiding sushi and alcohol to taking added vitamins and extra vegetables many recommendations abound for pregnant women. These lists can become overwhelming. Experts from the Mayo Clinic agree that some risks are more dangerous than others.

Common Risks Associated with Antidepressant Use During Pregnancy

Research no longer supports the theory that pregnancy protects a woman from depression. Hormones associated with pregnancy may even make coping with depression more difficult during pregnancy. Mayo researchers recommend that depression is treated during pregnancy, because untreated depression may lead to premature birth, low birth weight and developmental problems for the child.

Proper care may include the use of an antidepressant. However, use of the wrong antidepressant can lead to devastating consequences. Some medications can harm the mother, putting her at an increased risk of stroke. Others harm the developing child, including heart problems, low birth weight and high blood pressure, as noted by The March of Dimes.

Risks Particular to Zoloft

The Mayo Clinic reports that Sertraline, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) also known as Zoloft, is associated with various birth defects when used during pregnancy. This list includes:
- Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN), a rare but serious lung problem
- Septal heart defects
- Omphalocele, a rare defect that affects abdominal organs

In addition, a recent study from the National Institute of Health reports concern over a potential connection between use of SSRIs during pregnancy and Autism Spectrum Disorders.

If you took Zoloft or another antidepressant during any stage of your pregnancy and you or your child was injured, legal remedies are available. Courts have allowed reimbursement for injuries, medical expenses and pain and suffering on the part of both the victims and their families. Immediately after getting treatment for injuries, it is important to contact an experienced defective drug attorney to discuss your options and protect your rights.

Article provided by Law Offices of Corey Leifer, P.A.
Visit us at www.leiferlaw.com

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

FDA urges parents to read infant acetaminophen labels carefully

2011-12-29

VIDEO: Dr. Jim Sears talks about smart, new changes to children's and infants' acetaminophen products. Click here for more information. IRVINGTON, NY, DECEMBER 28, 2011 – Acetaminophen is one of the most commonly used pain and fever relievers for infants and children and is safe and effective when used as directed. However, with recent dosing changes to liquid acetaminophen products for infants, the FDA last week issued a press release urging parents to know the concentration ...

Turn down the iPod to save your hearing

2011-12-29

Today's ubiquitous MP3 players permit users to listen to crystal-clear tunes at high volume for hours on end — a marked improvement on the days of the Walkman. But according to Tel Aviv University research, these advances have also turned personal listening devices into a serious health hazard, with teenagers as the most at-risk group. One in four teens is in danger of early hearing loss as a direct result of these listening habits, says Prof. Chava Muchnik of TAU's Department of Communication Disorders in the Stanley Steyer School of Health Professions at the Sackler ...

Debris scatters in the Pacific Ocean, possibly heading to US

2011-12-29

VIDEO: This NOAA video shows the March 11, 2011, Japanese tsunami, the debris created by its force and that debris being carried out to sea. It incorporates a NOAA ocean model... Click here for more information. Debris from the tsunami that devastated Japan in March could reach the United States as early as this winter, according to predictions by NOAA scientists. However, they warn there is still a large amount of uncertainty over exactly what is still floating, where it's ...

The perils of 'bite-size' science

2011-12-29

Short, fast, and frequent: Those 21st-century demands on publication have radically changed the news, politics, and culture—for the worse, many say. Now an article in January's Perspectives on Psychological Science, a journal published by the Association for Psychological Science, aims a critique at a similar trend in psychological research. The authors, psychologists Marco Bertamini of the University of Liverpool and Marcus Munafò of the University of Bristol, call it "bite-size science"—papers based on one or a few studies and small samples. "We're not against concision," ...

Injured at the Workplace? Don't Worry: Your Job is Protected by Law

2011-12-29

Getting injured on the job is not a pleasant experience for anyone involved. It puts an employee temporarily or permanently out of work and creates paperwork and costs for employers. These inconveniences, however, never justify an employer taking retaliatory action against an injured worker. Threatening an injured worker with job loss or actually firing an employee for making a workers' compensation claim are illegal actions. The state of Minnesota takes a tough stand against such employment practices, and employees should know that they have the support of the state ...

Not So Secret Swiss Bank Accounts

2011-12-29

In an effort to resolve a dispute with the United States government, Swiss bank Credit Suisse will lift the veil of secrecy shrouding its bank accounts. This action could result in potentially severe consequences for many Americans. Switzerland's second largest bank is being investigated by the United States government for possibly helping U.S. citizens evade taxes through "secret" accounts. The bank will turn over previously confidential account information such as client names and account information to the Swiss Federal Tax Administration, who, at its discretion, ...

SSDI a Useful Resource for Workers Disabled by Heart Disease

2011-12-29

Coronary heart disease is the number one killer of Americans, accounting for one million deaths each year. A heart disease diagnosis can be crippling to someone whose family relies on his or her income to make ends meet. Often, heart disease renders a patient unable to work due to the strain it puts on its victim's everyday life. A heart condition does not necessarily lead to economic ruin, however. There are financial resources available to people with heart disease, and one of the most beneficial is Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). SSDI is income available ...

Recent Decision May Limit Liability in Some Drunk Driving Cases

2011-12-29

The Texas courts issued a decision recently that could limit the liability of car owners when they loan their vehicles to other individuals who operate them while intoxicated. In G & H Towing v. Magee, the adult children of a couple killed by a drunk driver in a borrowed car sued the owner of the car for damages on a theory of negligent entrustment. The plaintiffs alleged that the owner had been negligent in allowing the vehicle to be used in a dangerous manner. The car's owner, William Colson, worked with the driver, Joseph Violante, on a tugboat where the two ...

Obama Administration Ups Enforcement Against Alleged Healthcare Fraud

2011-12-29

A number of large federal health care programs have been vulnerable to fraud for years. Although there is no way to accurately measure the exact financial impact of undetected fraud, officials estimate that abuses of health care initiatives cost billions of dollars every year. In the current climate of slow economic growth and tight government budgets, officials are making concentrated efforts to trim waste. For the Obama administration, this means taking a hard line on health care fraud. New enforcement measures have resulted in a significant number of fines, penalties ...

Global Banking and Finance Review Awards 2011

2011-12-29

Global Baking & Finance Review has rewarded those banks and financial institutions who have exceptionally achieved results and who stand out in their particular area of expertise in the banking and finance industry. The awards have become a benchmark for performance and reliability within the banking and finance world and provide an accurate indicator of the leading organizations in this world. The awards recognize achievement, challenge, progress and inspirational changes within the world of finance across the planet. Global Banking & Finance Review will ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

New drug-eluting balloon may be as safe and effective as conventional metal stents for repeat percutaneous coronary interventions

Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of automated external defibrillators in private homes

University of Phoenix College of Social and Behavioral Sciences leadership publishes white paper on trauma-informed education

Identifying the best high-biomass sorghum hybrids based on biomass yield potential and feedstock quality affected by nitrogen fertility management under various environments