 Ever went out drinking and not remembering what happened to the rest of the night like the four guys in the movie “The Hangover”? Those four guys are not the only ones who wake up with no recollection of the things they have done while under the influence. This is what it means to have a blackout, a person would have no memories of what had happened the preceding times due to overconsumption of alcoholic beverages. It might be that only an hour or two would be lost but for some, it may be longer. The levels of alcohol in the body may be determined through performing blood tests on the patient. As alcohol may affect each person differently, some may be more sensitive and would get drunk easily while others know how to hold their liquor. These kinds of drinks are known to affect every part of the body because it is depresses the nervous system. When a person drinks too much, only a small portion goes through the metabolic process in the liver. That is why the blood is tested for alcohol levels because all those that were left are just freely circulating through the body. As a nervous system depressant, alcoholic beverages would slow down the brain’s activity like thought processing, coordination and movement among other things. That is why having too much alcohol would get a person in trouble, some may even do horrible things. Men and women with drinking problems are also prone to developing mood disorders and other mental illnesses. This is why antidepressants and antipsychotics are used in treating alcoholics who are trying to quit. But as they say, old habits are hard to stop. Those who are trying to straighten out their bad drinking habit would still drink while they are taking their antidepressants. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are the ones that are often prescribed and are being marketed under Zoloft, Prozac and Paxil, among others. This may not be a good idea, as to some people have had severe memory loss the day after. SSRIs and hard drinks both affect the brain. The combination of the two might have a negative effect on the brain. It might hinder proper functioning of the brain, as study shows that both might potentiate each other’s effects. So those who took Zoloft before drinking might experience heightened effects because of their drinks. Those who were unaware of this deadly combination have pointed out that proper information was not given and they are now filing a Zoloft lawsuit. URL References: cdc.gov/alcohol/faqs.htm#howAlcoholAffect medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Central+Nervous+System+Depressants pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh27-2/186-196.htm Add Comment Quitting Antidepressants is Difficult 01/19/2012
The long journey in treating depression proves to a difficult task. The men and women suffering from depression and their loved ones are deeply affected by depression. Cases of depression that have become resistant to treatment are surfacing. Most psychiatrists are telling their patients to follow-through with their treatment regimen to avoid having more of these cases. Some patients find it hard to follow through with their treatment because of the side effects of certain antidepressants. Research have found promising results when both diabetes and depression are treated at the same time. Hope for the depressed still exists as psychiatrists say that severe types of depression are curable. Depression may affect all types of people. Some of them stand at higher risk of developing it. There are now a variety of antidepressants offered in the market and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been newly developed. Earlier formulations are found to have more side effects than SSRIs. SSRIs are found to cause birth defects, suicide risks and withdrawal symptoms, but before that they were thought to be a medical marvel. The withdrawal symptoms of antidepressants have not discouraged people from using it. The uncomfortable physical or mental changes that happen to a person when the body is deprived of the drugs that it used to ingest may vary from person to person. Other symptoms may be similar to the side effects of the medications that they were taking. People who used to take Zoloft said that they would rather not use it, had they known that it would be hard to go off it. Withdrawal symptoms are often experienced when a person quits abruptly. The length of time the medication was taken can affect the severity of the symptoms. Zoloft has a half-life of 24 hours. Thus when a person misses a dose, her or she will experience withdrawal. Withdrawal is accompanied by mental and physical discomforts lasting for two weeks up to a month. While they were trying to quit, Zoloft users have experienced increased anxiety. Users who are would like to quit needs to look out for aggression. Some users who were quitting also reported that they were hallucinating. A process of lowering down the dosage would be the best option for the patients trying to quit, doctors say. Gradually tapering their dose has not prevented a few users from going to withdrawal, though. A Zoloft lawsuit was filed against Pfizer by some of its users. URL References:
 Zoloft Information Graphic At present the leading prescription medicine that is commonly used is antidepressants, as found by national health surveys. When older men and women develop depression due to a loss of physical ability or debilitating illness, their doctors prescribed the use of antidepressant. Medical studies have found out that different racial and ethnic backgrounds in older adults may affect the depression diagnosis. Children and adolescents are also prescribed with mood-altering drugs for depression. Depression is often prevalent in teens and elderly. Teens are at risk because they are in the stage of puberty and often have hang-ups over the answers of the different question that they asked as they grow up. There are cases about the severity of the side effects of antidepressants, especially when they are used by children and teens. The Food and Drug Administration has issued black box warnings to all antidepressants. These advisories are intended for doctors, patients and parents. Before prescribing antidepressants, doctors are asked to determine if the benefits outweigh the risks. Patients are advised to use the drugs appropriately due to their side effects. Parents are advised to be on guard for any signs of severe Zoloft side effects in their children. Pfizer is receiving claims against Zoloft due to the high risk of suicide associated with the antidepressant. There have been duly documented cases in which the teen that was using Zoloft developed violent behaviors. Aggression can lead to hostile behaviors against others and self-inflicted pains. The grave misconduct of teens may be due to the antidepressants that they are taking, as seen by some psychologists. Teens that just started using antidepressants have guidelines to follow on how frequent they need to visit their doctor, according to the FDA. The FDA has made the guidelines to closely supervise the use of antidepressants by teens. The grief of the parents of suicide victims over their children’ demise is still fresh. The parents believe that antidepressants may ruin the lives of children and they are against it. Ages 25 and below are the age group that are vulnerable to suicidal thoughts, as indicated in the black box warning of the FDA. Zoloft and antidepressants have high incidence of suicide during the first few weeks among those using it. Some that have already gotten through the first few weeks of using it still have suicidal inclinations once in a while. A Zoloft lawsuit was filed by some parents who think that Zoloft is the reason for their loss. They share the belief that their story will increase the awareness for their cause. They want to campaign against the unsafe practice of antidepressants use among children. References: http://psychrights.org/articles/NYTMagAntidepressantDilemma.html http://helpguide.org/mental/depression_teen.htm Atrial Septal Defect and Zoloft Lawsuits 08/09/2011
 Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) is a heart condition that is present at birth. It is characterized by a hole in the wall between the two upper chambers of the heart or otherwise known as the atrium (atria). Smaller holes tend to close on its own but larger ones are serious which can damage your heart and lungs. Atrial Septal Defect was observed in some babies born to women who took the drug when they were pregnant. 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 testing done to manage depression treatment is being offered by Mayo Clinic which can help doctors distinguish those who might have the negative effects of an antidepressant medication, however, the doubts on the test have been raised as the results can be used against the patient. A Brief on Atrial Septal Defect As stated, this defect is congenital in nature which means that this is found at birth. Symptoms might show at the age of 30 or later on in 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. Zoloft and its Association with Atrial Septal Defect In 2007, the British Medical Journal published a study which states that women who were taking Zoloft at the time of pregnancy had twice the risk of delivering babies with congenital septal defects. It was also noted that a rise from 0.5 percent to 0.9 percent in cases of septal defects were found in women who took Zoloft at the time of pregnancy. Atrial Septal Defect is a serious condition which is why a number of affected individuals filed Zoloft lawsuits to be compensated for their sufferings.  Zoloft Lawsuit Zoloft is one of the more popular medication of choice among doctors who prescribe this antidepressant even to pregnant patients. With generic name, sertraline hydrochloride, Zoloft is manufactured by pharmaceutical giant, Pfizer. This type of drug is classified as a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) which balances the serotonin levels in the brain thereby decreasing mood disorders and depression. Many were surprised when this drug is linked to Zoloft persistent pulmonary hypertension and several more birth defects. This SSRI medication is taken by patients to treat major depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and social anxiety disorder. Zoloft was first introduced to the market by Pfizer and was given a U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval in 1991. Ever since, this antidepressant was the more favored among the antidepressants in the market selling 29 million prescriptions in 2007 alone. There are studies that show a relationship between taking the drug during pregnancy and birth defects among their newborns. A category C classification is given to Zoloft by the FDA which indicates that this drug could potentially cause harm to the developing fetus. A study published in the American Journal of Nursing in 2010 even reveals a possible link between SSRI antidepressants and congenital heart defects. Congenital heart defects are not the only birth defects found to be caused by taking Zoloft. It was discovered that Zoloft may cause the following: premature birth, miscarriage, clubbed foot, cleft lip or palate, delayed development, gastroschisis, enlarged heart, macroephaly, craniosynostosis, neural tube defects and spina bifida. A person's health and way of life is severely altered by these abnormalities. As the these defects become increasingly apparent, the FDA issued a request to manufacturers to make more strict warnings and product labels on this medication. Several Zoloft class action lawsuits have been filed against Pfizer as a result of these allegations. However, no effort has been made to recall the product. When medication is prescribed to you, you would expect it to improve your condition, not make it worse. It is unfortunate that defenseless newborns should be made to pay for the mistakes of a company raking millions of dollars in profits. If you or a loved one is affected by the defects inflicted by Zoloft, you could contact a product liability lawyer to try to discuss your legal options and see if you have a valid claim against the company. In cases like these, a free legal consultation is made available by reputed law firms. 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. However further studies done by Pfizer years after its approval showed that Zoloft was 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. Zoloft has proven to be a popular drug and according to records provided by Pfizer, Zoloft has generated over $1 billion dollars over the years in the United States alone Zoloft, like any other prescription drug, has had its fair share of ups and downs in its almost 20 year history. One of the lawsuits however does standout over the rest; this lawsuit happened in 1996 and involved a warning letter from a subdivision of the FDA known as the Federal Division of Drug Marketing, Advertising, and Communications. This 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. In 2004 another set of lawsuits surfaced against Pfizer, these cases claimed that Pfizer did not properly disclose the potential side effects of Zoloft. To date, there are still numerous instances of 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 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. It is without a doubt that Zoloft is a popular anti-depressant drug, however 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. |
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