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FDA, Food and Drug Administration, health, medicine, Pfizer, pregnancy, Prescription drug, Zoloft
The prescription drug Zoloft has been on the US market since its approval by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1992; manufactured by Pfizer it was originally packaged as a treatment for depression. There have been further studies made on Zoloft after its FDA approval that show that the drug is also an effective treatment for other illnesses and disorders including: OCD, panic or anxiety disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, and PMDD or premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Since its introduction Zoloft has been one of the most popular drugs on the market against depression, and according to Pfizer sales reports the drug has made over $1 billion dollars in sales in the United States alone.
Zoloft has had its bumps in its almost 20 year history as it has been involved in several lawsuits. One of the more notable lawsuits that Zoloft was linked to has to do with a warning letter from a subdivision of the FDA known as the Federal Division of Drug Marketing, Advertising, and Communications. The contents of letter accused Pfizer of marketing and selling Zoloft outside of the FDA approved reasons for its use. In a rare and unexpected move, the Federal Division of Drug Marketing, Advertising, and Communications made this letter public for anyone to view. Another set of lawsuits surfaced against Pfizer in 2004, as many of them claimed Pfizer did not properly disclose the potential side effects of Zoloft. To date there are still side effects of Zoloft intake that Pfizer has yet to acknowledged, there are numerous patients who claim to be dealing with or have dealt with these “side effects.”
There are several side effects that Zoloft has been know to cause; these side effects can include: homicidal or violent behavior, hostility, and suicidal behavior. One side effect called Akathisia happens in about 5% of all patients that are taking Zoloft for their depression. What Akathisia really is, is a mental illness that can cause extreme moodiness; some have claimed that during their bouts of Akathisia, they have exhibited both violent and suicidal behavior.
The numbers don’t lie about Zoloft’s popularity as an anti-depressant drug, however currently there is an increasing growing amount of people who claim that they have been harmed in someway by Zoloft. If harm or injury has been caused by the intake of Zoloft, then visiting a Zoloft Lawyer would be the next best step. Most Lawyers will give you a free consultation and will not charge you unless your case sees compensation.
