No links were found between birth defects and Zoloft, by far the most commonly used antidepressant, researchers say.
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They found no connection between sertraline (Zoloft), the most commonly used antidepressant in the study, and five birth defects to which it has been previously linked. After accounting for the mother’s ethnicity, education, smoking, and obesity at the start of pregnancy, all of which are considered risk factors for birth defects, the researchers looked for links between defects five antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
The researchers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Boston University and the University of British Columbia studied more than 27,000 women who had children between 1997 to 2009. The results of the study were published Wednesday in the journal in BMJ. The risk of heart defects, on the other hand, rises to 24 in 10,000 from 10 in 10,000.
For the investigation, the scientists inquired almost 28,000 chicks if and when they accepted Celexa, Lexapro, Prozac, Paxil or Zoloft at any time as short as one month…
The study does not prove Paxil and Prozac cause birth defects, CDC researcher Jennita Reefhuis said.
However, two previously reported birth defects associated with Prozac were observed – heart wall defects and irregular skull shape. “It is also really important to keep in mind that 1 in 33 babies is born with a birth defect, regardless of exposures during pregnancy”. Abnormally shaped skulls are associated with Prozac while Paxil is linked to anencephaly and/or protrusion of the intestines out of the body. That’s three times the rate of men the same age. The CDC also said women should not stop taking drugs they are on without talking to their doctors.
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It is good to avoid these two medications if you are pregnant and needing some antidepressant medications, but you should not just dismiss your depression during pregnancy. This new information is incredibly important to both women and doctor’s, as it could allow for better, healthier methods to fighting the depression that occurs during pregnancy. Researchers reviewed existing science and conducted a new investigation of their own, assessing specific SSRI use one month before getting pregnant or during the first trimester among 27,809 new mothers.
