Atrial Septal Defect and Zoloft Lawsuits

The heart anomaly, Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) is a medical condition that is present at birth. This condition is characterized by an opening in the wall between the atria or the upper chambers of the heart. Most small ASDs can heal without medical intervention but the larger holes can cause serious effects if not repaired such as damage to the heart and lungs. Some women who took Zoloft at the time of pregnancy gave birth to children with atrial septal defect. Zoloft is generally prescribed for cases of depression and it is an antidepressant belonging to the SSRI drug class. depression is primarily managed with medications but certain side effects may hinder the sufferer to go on with the drug therapy. A genetic test to manage depression treatment was offered by Mayo Clinic to help physicians identify those who are most likely to develop side effects to antidepressants but the test itself is being argued as genetic results can be used against those who had the test.

Facts on Atrial Septal Defect

As mentioned, this is a congenital defect which means that it is present at birth. symptoms might start to show when they reach the age of 30 and above. The unrepaired septal defect may cause the individual to exhibit the following symptoms:

• Abnormal heart sounds
• Shortness of breath especially upon physical exertion
• Easily gets fatigued
• Bluish skin tint that is easily observed on nail beds and the lips
• Observable swelling of the lower extremities and the abdomen
• Frequent lung infections
• Stroke

These signs should be given immediate medical attention as it may advance to heart failure or other complications like pulmonary hypertension, shortened life expectancy, abnormalities in heart rhythms and increased risk of having a stroke.

Atrial Septal Defect and its Connection with Zoloft

The British Medical Journal published a study in the year 2007 indicating that women who took Zoloft when pregnant were twice as likely to deliver babies with septal birth defect. It was also recorded that the morbidity rate for septal defects rose from 0.5% to 0.9% in women who took the medication upon pregnancy. Atrial Septal Defect is a serious condition which is why a number of affected individuals filed Zoloft lawsuits to be compensated for their sufferings.
South Asians and Heart disease – Creative Solutions with Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes

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