Parker Waichman LLP

Zoloft Was Among Top Selling Drugs in 2011

Knowing More About Zoloft Drug Zoloft was among the most prescribed drugs in the U.S. last year, this despite many concerns about its ability as an effective antidepressant drug and its link to dangerous side effects. According to a report this week from Houston Business Journal, Pfizer’s Zoloft and Xanax were among the best-selling drugs […]

Zoloft

Knowing More About Zoloft Drug Zoloft was among the most prescribed drugs in the U.S. last year, this despite many concerns about its ability as an effective antidepressant drug and its link to dangerous side effects.

According to a report this week from Houston Business Journal, Pfizer’s Zoloft and Xanax were among the best-selling drugs in 2011. The cholesterol drug Lipitor topped the list, generating $7.7 billion in revenue. These statistics were made available in the most recent edition of the journal ACS Chemical Neurosciences, which found that sales of prescription drugs last year were higher than any in the past.

More than four billion prescriptions were filled last year. The 4.02 billion sold last year topped the 3.99 billion sold in 2010. Because Lipitor topped the list, the study determined that Americans, as a whole, suffer from poor lifestyle choices and diets, things that would likely increase a person’s cholesterol.

(SSRI) antidepressants were the most prescribed drugs

Zoloft and other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants were the most prescribed drugs, as a class, overall. Sales of these drugs actually decreased last year to $11 billion from the $11.6 billion generated in 2010 but the study does not indicate if other factors, like the use of generic medications over name brand drugs, could have impacted the sale figures.

Still, the rate and ratio at which Americans are prescribed SSRI antidpressants suggests that many people have not been made aware of their potential side effects and recent studies that suggest most of these prescriptions have no effect on a patient.

Chief among those who likely are unaware of Zoloft’s link to dangerous side effects are expecting mothers. Zoloft, and many other SSRI drugs, have been linked to serious and some life-threatening birth defects. It was not until 2006 that the FDA warned of the potential risks to an unborn baby Zoloft posed, especially when taken by women prior to or during the early stages of pregnancy. This warning came a year after a study linked expecting mothers taking Zoloft to a 60 percent increased risk of congenital heart defects.

life-threatening birth defect

In addition to that life-threatening birth defect, other women claim taking Zoloft caused them to give birth to a baby born with Down’s syndrome, undescended testes in males, blindness, spina bifida, hernia, physical malformations, clubfoot, and cleft lip or cleft palate.

A study published in New England Journal of Medicine established that women taking Zoloft increased their risk of giving birth to a child with persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) was six-fold higher than women who avoided the drug.

In some cases, expecting mothers or women who wish to get pregnant and suffer from moderate-to-severe depression face a dilemma in their family planning. But as sales figures suggest, Zoloft is being prescribed much more wantonly, and several studies suggest as many as three-quarters of prescriptions written for SSRI antidepressants are unnecessary and that prolonged use of the drug likely will decrease its effectiveness, if it was even providing any to the patient.

Need Legal Help Regarding Zoloft?

The personal injury attorneys at Parker Waichman LLP offer free, no-obligation case evaluations. For more information, fill out our online contact form or call 1-800-YOURLAWYER (1-800-968-7529).

What Our Clients Say About Us
We have worked with thousands of clients and we appreciate them and their positive reviews. Here are just a few recent client reviews...
5 Star Reviews 150
Nicole Copertino handled my case Professionally. She is friendly and knowledgeable
vance calvin
a year ago
5 Star Reviews 150
They got the job done!
Stephanie Fede
4 years ago
5 Star Reviews 150
I had a friend who recommended Parker Waichman and I have to say I am so thankful that he suggested them. I found them to be very professional. Whenever I had an issue, I always spoke to Tina Morace. She was always prompt in returning my calls, and never to busy to answer any of my questions. She played an integral part in making the whole process stress free for me. Tina and the firm never kept me in the dark on what was going on. I will definitely use them again, and I highly recommend them.
Walter Sherrod
4 months ago

Why Choose Us to Help You?

We Take Care of Everything
Your situation is stressful enough: Let us take on the deadlines, paperwork, investigation, and litigation. We'll handle every detail so you don't have to worry.
No Recovery = No Legal Fees
We work on a contingency-fee basis, meaning that we only get paid from a portion of your settlement or jury award. If you don't get compensation, you owe us nothing.
Decades of Experience
Your situation is stressful enough: Let us take on the deadlines, paperwork, investigation, and litigation. We'll handle every detail so you don't have to worry.
Respected by Our Peers
Judges, insurance adjusters, and fellow attorneys all speak highly of our skills, and we've earned numerous accolades, including a flawless rating from AVVO.
We Have Many Locations To Serve You
We have the experience and the skilled litigators to win your case. Contact us and speak with a real attorney who can help you.
Long Island – Nassau
Parker Waichman LLP
6 Harbor Park Drive
Port Washington, NY 11050
Long Island – Suffolk
Parker Waichman LLP
201 Old Country Road – Suite 145
Melville, NY 11747
New York
Parker Waichman LLP
59 Maiden Lane, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10038
Queens
Parker Waichman LLP
118-35 Queens Boulevard, Suite 400
Forest Hills, NY 11375
Brooklyn
Parker Waichman LLP
300 Cadman Plaza West
One Pierrepont Plaza, 12th Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11201
New Jersey
Parker Waichman LLP
80 Main Street, Suite 265
West Orange, NJ 07052
Florida
Parker Waichman LLP
27299 Riverview Center Boulevard
Suite 108
Bonita Springs, FL 34134
Nationwide Service
Parker Waichman LLP
59 Maiden Lane, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10038