Lawsuits Prod Researchers to Find Alternatives for
Antidepressants
Oftentimes, medical professionals
prescribe oral medication and talk
therapy as treatment for
depression. In general,
antidepressant drugs are supposed
to reduce extreme sadness,
hopelessness and lack of
enthusiasm in life that are classic in
people suffering from depression.
Recent studies suggest that vitamins
may be used to alleviate depression.
Omega-3, folates, SAMe (S-adenosyl-L-methionine) and St. John’s wort have been the subjects of these
studies. An increasing evidence noted that omega-3 fatty acids, aside from being essential for cardiac
health, may also help in easing depression. Several studies have shown that folates, taken in conjunction
with antidepressants, enhance the effectiveness of the medicines and have been proved to lessen side
effects. SAMe is equally effectual as an “add-on” treatment to antidepressant medicines in some major
depression patients. This was found out by a study accomplished at the Harvard University, published in
the American Journal of Psychiatry. Furthermore, some research studies indicate that St. John’s wort can
be used to ease depression better than a placebo.
Several people seek other ways to treat depression due to the negative reports regarding
antidepressant Zoloft intake. Pfizer is the manufacturer of the antidepressant Zoloft, brand name for
setraline. According to media reports, when Zoloft was released in the global market, it immediately
became one of the biggest-selling antidepressant drugs.
Zoloft has been the target of court charges for causing numerous harms to patients such as insomnia,
hallucination, abnormal personality changes, unusual mood shifts, psychosis, hostility, agitation, self-
harm, suicide and other acts of violence. Birth defects are also among the severe side effect of the drug.
More specifically, Zoloft has been blamed for causing birth defects to newborns whose mothers took the
drug during pregnancy. The following are some of the birth defects:
• Clubbed foot;
• Cleft lip or plate;
• Delayed development;
• Persistent pulmonary hypertension;
• Gastrochisis;
• Heart defects;
• Skull defects;
• Brain and spinal cord defects;
• Premature birth; and
• Miscarriage.
Several lawsuits have been pursued to recover damages for patients who committed suicide while
taking Zoloft. The lawsuits argue that Pfizer did not warn the doctors and patients about the dangers of
taking Zoloft. There was one class action in California that charged the company of concealing the
information about Zoloft side effects from the public.
To acquire compensation from Pfizer, one should consult legal experts. They will guide you in filing a
Zoloft lawsuit. It is also necessary to go to a medical professional about the damages Zoloft had caused
on your health. Your health care provider may provide you a safer way to cope with your depression.