People taking various medications are informed by their doctors to look out for side effects and/or adverse effects. The terms are often used in lieu of each other but they don’t actually 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 adverse effects of the medication. 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 could be an effective second antidepressant but it might not suffice for some.

Zoloft, with generic name of sertraline hydrochloride belongs to the SSRI drug classification of antidepressants. This is primarily given in patients 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. With that said, some birth defects associated with Zoloft are the following:

• Heart Defects

Ventricular septal defects as well as atrial septal defects are two of the most common heart defects associated with Zoloft use in pregnant women.

• 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)

A birth defect characterized by severe respiratory failure and difficulty by the new-born which would require close medical supervision and hospitalization.

• Delayed development

Not only is Zoloft linked with physical birth defects but with the development of the child as well. 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 can be considered as adverse effects of Zoloft and the sufferers have reportedly filed lawsuits with these Zoloft birth defects as basis.

The moment a baby is released from the mother’s womb, the neonate’s lungs has to adapt to the outside world together with the rest of his/her body. The respiratory system is deemed as vital when it comes to new-born’s transition because it can determine his/her ability to survive outside the utero’s environment. Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension in New-born is a condition where the circulatory functions of the baby is greatly compromised because of the defect found in the lungs. This is a defect found at birth wherein the arteries towards the lungs are constricted which would result to less blood supply to the lungs. As an effect, the blood carried from the lungs to the rest of the body has decreased oxygenation. A number of causes are identified including the use of Zoloft at the time of pregnancy. Zoloft is primarily prescribed in patients with depression and it is under the SSRI drug classification. Apart from birth defects, others identify weight gain with Zoloft.

What Happens In A Child With PPHN?

A child with this condition usually has breathing difficulties. Respiratory distress can be seen in children with PPHN because their lungs are getting as much oxygen as they can. This can be evident with flaring of their nostrils or even with grunting. Cyanosis or bluish tint is often seen in the child due to low oxygen levels in the blood. You can normally see this on the nail beds and the lips. Upon assessment of the heart, you can hear murmurs or abnormal heart sounds which is another compensatory mechanism of the body. The heart works harder by pumping more blood towards the lungs so oxygen demand can be met. These compensatory actions might lead to complications at a given time so early detection of the defect is really important.

Complications of PPHN

Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn is a serious condition requiring critical care and monitoring. However, early detection cannot guarantee that complications will not be experienced. The complications are mainly brought by the inadequate supply of oxygen to the organ systems which may result to shock, heart failure, kidney failure, brain damage, seizures and death. The mentioned complications are all severe medical conditions and they could be a burden to the baby and the family. As mentioned above, PPHN has been associated with the use of Zoloft so the affected parties filed a Zoloft lawsuit to receive the compensation that they rightfully deserve.

Hoffman-La Roche is the company that once produced and sold Accutane as an anti-acne treatment for severe cases of acne.   Along with treating acne, Accutane also brought with it adverse side effects such as inflammatory bowel syndrome (IBS), creating several lawsuits Just this past year, multiple multi-million dollar lawsuits were awarded to patients who developed IBS after treatment with Accutane.

An Accutane lawsuit can result from the development of the common form of IBS known as ulcerative colitis, which is a debilitating disorder causing inflammation and ulceration of the lining within the colon or rectum. Mild cases of ulcerative colitis may only require treatment with drugs, however, severe cases may require surgical resectioning of the affected part of the colon.Anyone with a history of Accutane use could be at risk to develop ulcerative colitis.

There is variation in the signs and symptoms that ulcerative colitis may present.  Typically, side effects are often mild, non-specific symptoms such as fever, but may progress to more severe symptoms such as bloody diarrhea and chronic abdominal pain. Those that have taken Accutane and are experiencing these side effect or chronic fatigue should consult a doctor in order to confirm diagnosis of this condition.

A doctor will typically run a set of three tests to diagnose a patient with ulcerative colitis when the condition is suspected. A blood sample will yield a complete blood count (CBC) which will check for inconsistencies in the number of red and white blood cells pointing to the diagnosis of ulcerative colitis. Testing for fecal occult blood in a given stool sample may also corroborate the diagnosis of the condition. Colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy is the most common diagnostic procedure for ulcerative colitis in which an endoscope is inserted through the anus to visualize any characteristic inflammation or ulceration of the colon.

The American Journal of Gastroenterology published a study in April 2010 which concluded that patients taking forms of isotretinoin, the active drug contained in Accutane, were four times more likely to develop ulcerative colitis. Since it has been determined that IBS and/or ulcerative colitis is a common side effect of Accutane, those with a history of
taking this drug should take prophylactic measures to prevent this condition from developing or to treat it before the condition worsens. 

The courts have found Hoffman-La Roche liable in certain cases proven to show that Accutane resulted in the development of ulcerative colitis. If you have a history of being treated with Accutane and have subsequently developed ulcerative colitis or any other condition associated with IBS, you may be able to file an Accutane lawsuit.

Lauren had just received her second DUI. She was going to represent herself in court, but her father, Sam, told her that this would be a huge mistake. When Lauren heard this, she asked Sam why she should even consider hiring a DWI lawyer.

Although Sam wasn’t a lawyer, he told his daughter that he learned the hard way when as a young man he received a “drunk driving” arrest, represented himself in court, paid thirty-five hundred dollars in penalties and fines, and served 90 days in the city jail. As he mentioned to his daughter, after he got out of jail, he found out from an attorney friend that had he hired a DUI attorney to represent him in court, he probably would have had his fines and penalties considerably reduced and he may have never served any time in the local city jail.

What a ”Drunk Driving” Lawyer Can Do in a Drunk Driving Arrest.

When Lauren heard this she knew she needed more DUI facts so she asked her dad for more information about what a DUI lawyer can do in a DUI arrest. Her dad then articulated the following: “If you have been charged with DUI, it is advisable for you to get advice from a DUI lawyer in your local area right away. By doing this, you will know what to expect when you appear in court. From a general standpoint, criminal DUI cases tend to move fairly rapidly through the court system and unfamiliarity with procedural requirements and the various deadlines could harm your case. With this in mind, it certainly makes a lot of sense to hire a DUI attorney for your ‘driving under the influence’ or ‘drunk driving’ case.”

When Lauren listend to her dad explain this, it was as if her eyes were opened for the first time about the critical nature of hiring a ”driving under the influence” attorney. Stated another way, Lauren realized that she needed a DUI lawyer.

The Facts About Taking Field Sobriety Tests

She then told her dad that she had heard a lot about field sobriety tests. As a result, she asked her father what a field sobriety test was.

Her father responded with the following: “Lauren, field sobriety tests are administered by the police in order to find out if a person has been operating a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol, drugs, or both. Field sobriety tests are often based on coordination and agility. The ‘rationale’ underlying these tests is that if a person is impaired from drugs, alcohol, or from both, his or her coordination and agility will be negatively affected and the person’s ‘performance’ on these tests will suffer.”

Lauren’s father then wanted to highlight the following: “Lauren, unlike a chemical test such as a breathalyzer test, a blood alcohol test, or a saliva test, where refusal to take such a test can have far-reaching and negative consequences, an individual is not legally required to take any field sobriety tests. The bottom line reality is that police officers have typically made up their minds to arrest the individual when they administer one of more of the field sobriety tests. In a word, field sobriety tests provide additional evidence that the driver inevitably ‘fails.’ As a result, and in most instances, a polite refusal to take any field sobriety test may be appropriate”

Near the end of their conversation, Lauren said that she was starting to comprehend more about DUI laws and what DUI lawyers can do for an individual who has received a ”driving under the influence” arrest, but he was still wondering why he was stopped by the police in the first place. In her own words Lauren asked her father the following question: “Dad, why was I stopped by the police? Explicitly what were they looking for”?

Her dad answered Lauren in the following manner: “Lauren, there are many different reasons why you could have been ‘pulled over’ by the police. Some illustrations include the following: weaving in and out of traffic, missing a front license plate, tinted windows, speeding, involvement in a traffic accident, driving erratically, and expired registration tags. What is more, an anonymous individual may have reported you to the police after seeing you leaving a restaurant, a sporting event, a party, or a bar ‘under the influence’ and getting behind the wheel of your vehicle. In short, there are many possible reasons why you were ‘pulled over’ by the police.”

After getting “educated” about “driving under the influence” arrests, the role of ”driving under the influence” attorneys, and the fact that she didn’t have to agree to take any field sobriety tests at the time of her arrest, Lauren decided that she would without question hire a ”drunk driving” lawyer to represent her in court.

Lauren Becomes Encouraged That She Will Always Drink Responsibly and Never Face Another DWI Arrest

Something else, however, happened after she had talked to her father. Lauren at last started to understand the critical nature of “drunk driving” arrests and as a result, she made up her mind that from this moment forward, she would always drink responsibly so that she would never again have to suffer through another “driving under the influence” arrest.

Her father smiled at Lauren and told her the following, “daughter, it took me until I was forty-five years old to realize what you just told me. I am really proud of you.

This did wonders for her self worth and so Lauren thanked her dad and then said, “if I can always drink in moderation, I will never need to hire a DUI attorney again!”

Does Lauren Need Alcohol Rehabilitation For Her Alcoholism or For Her Alcohol Abuse?

There was, however, one thing that neither Lauren nor her dad thought about, namely, if Lauren needs alcohol rehab for her alcohol abuse or for her alcoholism. In fact, Lauren may be mandated by the court to get rehabilitation for her hazardous drinking.