SSRIs linked with birth defects
Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors have been linked with congenital malformations, such as cardiac defects, in a study presented at the International
Society for Pharmacoepidemiology conference in Nashville, Tennessee, US, last month.
The study of 1,054 women found that, in the first trimester of pregnancy,
SSRIs were associated with a 40 per cent increase in the risk of congenital
malformation and a 60 per cent increase in cardiac defects for their
babies. SSRIs were also associated with a 40 per cent increase in the
risk of preterm birth and a 10 per cent increase in the risk of low birth
weight. However, the researchers say that is unclear whether the effects
they found were causal or due to other factors related to the underlying
disease.
In a statement, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
has said that previous studies have shown differing results, with some
showing no difference in birth defects for women taking antidepressants
to the average population rate. “The MHRA is carefully considering
these data with European colleagues and will issue advice as necessary.
As with all medicines, antidepressants should only be taken in pregnancy
if the expected benefit to the mother is thought to be greater than the
risk to the foetus, and all drugs should be avoided in the first trimester
if possible. People taking antidepressants should not stop them without
seeking medical advice,” it added. |
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