Antidepressants linked to baby heart anomalies
What a shame to bring bad tidings at Thanksgiving week. Sorry to dampen your holiday spirits but the pregnant among us should hear this warning.
Depression among moms need not be the postpartum type. About 1 in 7 women do suffer from clinical depression during pregnancy. In these cases, fluoxetine and paroxetine are the most commonly prescribed antidepressants because they are deemed to be safe for both both mother and fetus. However, this latest study has found a link between maternal intake of these drugs and heart problems in their babies.
Those who took paroxetine during the first trimester of pregnant gave birth to babies with 3 times the likelihood of having heart problems. This likelihood is even 4 times for those who took fluoxetine.
The data from the study came from women in Israel, Germany, and Italy, recruited by 3 centers which is part of the European Network of Teratology Information Services, a group “that investigate, and provide counselling on, environmental exposure during pregnancy.”
The researchers give the following recommendations:
- Women taking fluoxetine should have a fetal ECG in the second trimester to check for heart problems.
- Women should discuss the issue with the doctor?who prescribed the drug.
- Pregnant women should stop smoking. Maternal smoking also increases the risk for heart anomalies in babies. Combined with the effects of antidepressants, the consequences can be serious.
Read More
