People taking various medications are informed by their doctors to look out for side effects and/or adverse effects. These terminologies, adverse reactions and side effects, have been used several times interchangeably but they don’t have the same meaning. Side effects can be defined as the unwanted effects but are expected to happen while adverse effects are those unwanted reactions that are not expected from the medications. Zoloft, an antidepressant medication, has been associated with birth defects when taken by pregnant women during pregnancy. Birth defects are under adverse effects for Zoloft. Warnings were released by the U.S. FDA regarding Zoloft and its connection with birth defects but one cannot expect these women to abruptly stop taking the medication that is managing their depression. Exercise may also be an effective secondary antidepressant but it may not be as effective in some women.

Zoloft better known with its generic name sertraline, belongs to the SSRI drug class of  antidepressants. It is primarily indicated for people with depression. The US FDA has assigned a Pregnancy Category C classification to the drug which means that it can be a risk for the fetus but the therapeutic effects may warrant its use. Some of the birth defects believed to be caused by Zoloft are:

•             Heart Defects

The most common heart defects associated with Zoloft are the septal defects, ventricular and atrial.

•             Clefts

Craniofacial anomalies such as cleft lip and palate are also believed to be caused by Zoloft in babies born to women who took the drug.

•             Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension (PPHN)

This is characterized by a severe respiratory failure by the baby and is needing hospitalization and close medical supervision.

•             Delayed development

Zoloft has been identified with not only birth defects but with developmental delays also. Babies born to women who took the medication when pregnant had developmental delays especially in walking and sitting upright.

 •             Neural Tube Defects

Spina bifida and spinal cord injuries are believed to be two of the effects of taking Zoloft when pregnant.

These are some of the serious birth defects that have been classified as adverse effects of Zoloft and those who are affected have reportedly raised complaints with Zoloft birth defects as their ground.

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