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Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Zoloft linked to Birth Defects

Zoloft (sertraline) is an antidepressant of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class. It was introduced to the market by Pfizer in 1991. Sertraline is primarily used to treat major depression in adult outpatients as well as obsessive-compulsive, panic, and social anxiety disorders in both adults and children. In 2007, it was the most prescribed antidepressant on the U.S. retail market, with 29,652,000 prescriptions

SSRIs work by preventing certain receptors in the human brain from absorbing serotonin that has already been released. Serotonin helps maintain feelings of well-being, so preventing its re-absorption alleviates negative feelings. Unlike other drugs (such as buproprion–also known as Wellbutrin—for example), SSRIs minimally affect noradrenaline and dopamine, which regulate stress levels. But SSRIs can cause many side effects, most common among them nausea, somnolence, and sexual dysfunction.

Zoloft in particular has been linked to numerous birth defects in children born to mothers who were taking the drug while pregnant. These include: clubbed foot; cleft lip/palate; delayed development; persistent pulmonary hypertension; gastrochisis; heart defects; skull defects; and brain/spinal cord defects. Moreover, Zoloft can cause premature birth or even miscarriage. And a child exposed to Zoloft in utero can experience withdrawal symptoms after birth.


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