The heart anomaly, Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) is a medical condition that is present at birth. This is marked by a hole found in the wall of the two upper chambers of the heart or atria. The small atrial septal defects can heal on its own but the larger and long-standing ones have to be repaired so heart and lung damage can be avoided. Some children born to women who took Zoloft at the time of pregnancy had this condition. Zoloft is an antidepressant medication under the SSRI drug classification and is usually given to people with depression. Depression is primarily managed with medications but certain side effects may hinder the sufferer to go on with the drug therapy. A
genetic test done to manage depression treatment is being offered by Mayo Clinic which may help physicians pick out those who might develop side effects to a specific antidepressant, but doubts were raised regarding this test since the genetic results can be used against the patient.
Some Information on Atrial Septal Defect
As previously mentioned, this is a congenital anomaly which means that it can be found at birth. The signs may begin to show when they are at their 30s but some have symptoms later in their adult life. The unrepaired septal defect may cause the individual to exhibit the following symptoms:
Abnormal heart sounds
Shortness of breath especially upon physical exertion
Easily gets fatigued
Bluish skin tint that is easily observed on nail beds and the lips
Observable swelling of the lower extremities and the abdomen
Frequent lung infections
Stroke
These signs should be given immediate medical attention as it may advance to heart failure or other complications like pulmonary hypertension, shortened life expectancy, abnormalities in heart rhythms and increased risk of having a stroke.
Atrial Septal Defect and its Connection with Zoloft
The British Medical Journal published a study in the year 2007 indicating that women who took Zoloft when pregnant were twice as likely to deliver babies with septal birth defect. It was also found out that the incidence of septal defects rose from 0.5 percent to 0.9 percent in women who took antidepressants including Zoloft when they were pregnant. Atrial Septal Defect is a fatal condition that is why a number have filed Zoloft lawsuits so theyll be compensated from all their sufferings.
