New Study: Antidepressants Linked to Birth Defects

A Danish study shows that the risk is greatest when moms-to-be take more than one selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant or switch SSRIs early in pregnancy. Babies born to women who had filled prescriptions for more than one SSRI had a fourfold increase in septal heart defects — a malformation of the wall that divides the left and right sides of the heart.

Salynn Boyles
WebMD Health News
September 24, 2009

New research adds to the evidence that babies born to women who take antidepressants  during pregnancy have a small increased risk for a specific heart defect.

The Danish study also shows that the risk is greatest when moms-to-be take more than one selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant or switch SSRIs early in pregnancy.

SSRIs such as Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Celexa and Lexapro are the most widely prescribed drugs for depression; millions of women take them during pregnancy.

The new study shows the overall risk for congenital heart problems associated with SSRI to be quite low.

But babies born to women who had filled prescriptions for more than one SSRI had a fourfold increase in septal heart defects — a malformation of the wall that divides the left and right sides of the heart.

Read entire article: http://www.webmd.com/baby/news/20090924/antidepressants-linked-to-birth-defect

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