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Zoloft Class Action Lawsuits Information
Depression no longer carries the stigma it once did. The
number of people diagnosed with depression since the 1980s has tripled, also due
in part to education and public awareness. Everywhere you look, there are
advertisements for antidepressants, including Zoloft, Prozac, and Paxil, which
have become common names to most people. Thus, the competition between drug
companies to gain an edge over their competitors has also increased.
Through the 1990s, more than half the drug company studies on antidepressants
showed they were no better than a sugar pill. In 1998, a scientist at Pfizer,
maker of Zoloft, found that "all SSRIs have the rare potential to cause
akathisia." When referring to the most extreme cases, the scientist wrote that
the patients might feel "death is a welcome result". The Zoloft and other
antidepressant drug controversy have escalated into a legal battle. Zoloft
lawsuits and other SSRI related lawsuits have continued to be argued.
February 2, 2004, an FDA advisory committee will hold yet another hearing
regarding the risk of suicide by people taking antidepressants, like Zoloft. For
many families, the battle against antidepressant drug companies has been
frustrating, especially since the February 2, 2004 hearing will be 13 years
after the 1991 Prozac hearings first convened to discuss violence and suicide
reports.
Zoloft Side Effects
Zoloft (generic name sertraline) is one of the most widely
prescribed anti-depression drugs in the world. The number of people suffering
from Zoloft side effects is unknown, as many people may not even be aware that
certain physical/emotional/mental Zoloft side effects even exist. Zoloft belongs
to a group of drugs known as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs).
Almost all reported Zoloft side effects meet the same profile as side effects
caused by other SSRIs, although the general public remains in many cases unaware
of potentially lethal Zoloft side effects, such as suicide, as well as the
repercussions of taking other SSRIs.
The most common Zoloft side effects, according to the Zoloft web site are dry
mouth, upset stomach, decreased appetite, fatigue, trouble sleeping, sexual
dysfunction, diarrhea, tremor, feelings of agitation, indigestion, and increased
perspiration. Any Zoloft side effects may appear more pronounced in children,
who are also susceptible to such Zoloft side effects as excessive movement or
twitching, malaise, trouble concentrating, abnormal thinking, nosebleeds, weight
loss, manic or excited behavior, or rapid mood swings.
These Zoloft side effects are similar to those experienced when taking any form
of medication, but some Zoloft side effects are less frequently mentioned, and
tend to be more frightening in nature. Among the more serious Zoloft side
effects are anxiety, liver problems/failure, convulsions, hallucinations,
psychosis and mania. Although many individuals feel that Pfizer does not provide
sufficient warning about all the potential Zoloft side effects, especially those
that are more severe or life-threatening.
In addition to the Zoloft side effects that occur while taking the drug,
patients who have decided to stop treatment have found that the Zoloft side
effects resulting from withdrawal can be even worse. Although all SSRIs carry
the risk of withdrawal, with Paxil's among the worst, Zoloft side effects tend
to rank as a close second. Patients who have stopped taking the drug have
reported Zoloft side effects from withdrawal that include jolting electric
"zaps", dizziness, extreme nausea and vomiting, high fever, abdominal
discomfort, flu symptoms, agitation, anxiety, insomnia, aggression, nightmares,
tremor, seizure, and confusion. The Zoloft side effects stemming from withdrawal
can become so painful that some patients have committed suicide to end their
misery. A more common result of Zoloft withdrawal is misinterpretation by the
physician and/or patient, with a wrongful diagnosis of regression.
If you or a loved one is experiencing Zoloft side effects, you should
immediately consult a physician to fully discuss your medical options. The
Zoloft side effects can become much worse if you stop taking the medication
abruptly. Persons who have suffered from Zoloft side effects may be entitled to
recover funds for the medical costs, pain and suffering, and punitive damages.
Consulting an attorney who has worked with persons experiencing Zoloft side
effects in the past is highly recommended.
More Zoloft Information
In recent years, more and more accusations have been made
that critical Zoloft information was withheld from physicians and the public by
the drug's manufacturers and distributors. More specifically, drug company
Pfizer allegedly did not release Zoloft information relating to the drug's
potentially lethal side effects, its physiologically addictive nature, and the
potential for severe withdrawal if use of the drug was discontinued.
Although drug manufacturers are required to disclose side effects and other
relevant information, the Zoloft information listed on Zoloft.com highlights
only the more benign side effects of the drug. The Zoloft information provided
by Pfizer to the Physicians' Desk Reference also neglects to mention the
potentially life-threatening side effects, which include akathisia, suicidal
thoughts and tendencies, mania, psychosis, convulsions, aggression, violence,
severe withdrawal.
Without this crucial Zoloft information, many patients and their doctors could
not understand why there was aggressive behavior and increased depression during
the use of a drug meant as an anti-depressant. The results of various studies
continue to provide new Zoloft information to the general public, increasing the
understanding of the adverse effects of this drug. In fact, an Australian
Supreme Court found that a man's ingestion of Zoloft caused him to murder his
wife.
As our ability to access this type of Zoloft information increases, it raises
more and more questions about Pfizer's negligence in releasing the appropriate
Zoloft information to doctors and patients as soon as it was discovered.
Patients who have been negatively affected by Zoloft and feel that they did not
have access to crucial Zoloft information when it was available to the drug
companies should contact an attorney to discuss the potential liability issues
involved in their circumstances.
For more free legal information on known dangerous drugs and Class Action Lawsuits, please use the
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