|
4 February 2005
Warning On Anti-Depressants During Pregnancy 
Babies exposed to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) anti-depressants in the womb may be born with withdrawal syndrome, says a study published in The Lancet. The authors of the study recommend that doctors should avoid or cautiously manage the prescribing of anti-depressants to pregnant women. SSRIs are becoming the standard treatment for depression and a wide spectrum of other mood and behavioural disorders. Withdrawal reactions to SSRIs are now widely recognised and several cases of neonatal withdrawal syndrome associated with the drugs - characterised by convulsions, irritability, abnormal crying and tremor- have been reported. Investigator Emilio Sanz of the University of La Laguna, Spain and co-investigators found that most instances of withdrawal syndrome were associated with the drug paroxetine. Other SSRIs such as citalopram, fluoxetine and sertraline were also identified, but to a lesser extent. Sanz concluded: "Within the limits of spontaneous reports on these drugs, the results suggest that symptoms of withdrawal might be a greater problem for paroxetine than for other drugs. Paroxetine should not be used in pregnancy, or if used, it should be given at the lowest effective dose. With the other SSRIs, especially citalopram and venlafaxine, their use should be carefully monitored and new cases promptly communicated to drug vigilance systems."
Talk About This Article In The Forum...
|
