Zoloft Lawsuits: Seniors Ponder Options

Many patients across the country who have experienced negative side effects stemming from their use of the popular anti-depressant Zoloft as well as other SSRI drugs, such as Celexa and Prozac, are filing Zoloft lawsuits against drugmakers like Pfizer in order to gain damages that will help cover the medical bills that aren’t paid by their insurance. SSRIs are one of the most commonly prescribed drugs for disorders like obsessive compulsive disorder or OCD, post traumatic stress disorder or PTSD, anxiety disorders, panic attacks, and depression. They work by manipulating the way serotonin functions in the brain, thereby helping to balance a patient’s mood. SSRI stands for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor.

Although it has been clear for a while that SSRI drugs come with a risk of birth defects if used by expecting mothers – as do many prescription medications – there is also another specific group at high risk of Zoloft damage  – senior citizens. A study published in early August in the British Medical Journal looked at 60,745 patients diagnosed with depression between January 1, 1996 and December 31, 2007. These patients were all between the ages of 65 and 100.

89 percent of these patients were prescribed antidepressant medication to help treat their condition, with 54.7 percent being prescribed SSRIs like Zoloft and the remainder being prescribed tricyclic antidepressants. The study concluded that those who used SSRIs as opposed to the tricyclic antidepressants were significantly more likely to experience side effects like stroke, bone fracture, seizures, and falls. They were also more likely to pass away.

This could be because SSRI drugs react poorly with other drugs commonly used to treat age-related ailments, but it could also simply be because our physiologies change as we get older, and we are less well-equipped to handle certain chemicals and reactions.

Although there are far more Zoloft birth defects lawsuits, it is likely that the number of lawsuits filed by senior citizens and bereaved family members affected by Zoloft side effects will increase since the publication of this study. Zoloft users over 65 may already be investigating their legal options in order to determine whether or not they have a valid case that will hold up in court.