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. Shortly after its approval further studies on Zoloft showed that the drug was also an effective treatment for other illnesses and disorders such as: 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 too, like many other prescription drugs on the market, has been involved in numerous lawsuits within its 20 year history. 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 letter claimed that Pfizer was marketing and selling Zoloft outside of the FDA approved reasons for its use. Doing something it rarely does, 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. Currently there are still many patients still dealing with or having dealt with side effects of Zoloft intake that have not yet been acknowledged by Pfizer.
Zoloft also has potentially harmful side effects, these psychological side effects can include: homicidal or violent behavior, hostility, and suicidal behavior. A common side effect called Akathisia happens in about 5% of patients that are currently taking Zoloft. Akathisia is actually 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 you believe that Zoloft has caused you harm or injury due to its intake, then visiting a Zoloft Lawyer would be the next best step. Many Lawyers will give you a free consultation on any possible legal action that you can take and will not charge you unless your case sees compensation.
