Women who took the antidepressants Prozac (fluoxetine) or Paxil (paroxetine) in their first trimester were significantly more likely to give birth to babies with heart problems than women who did not take them, according to a new study published in the November issue of the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.
The babies born to mothers who took Prozac had over four times greater risk, while the babies of mothers who took Paxil had about three times greater risk.
Although some of the heart conditions were serious, others were not and resolved themselves without medical treatment.
The study authors said that it is important for women to be aware of these findings, especially if they smoke, since smoking during pregnancy was also found to significantly increase the risk of heart problems.
The authors recommended that women should consult with their family doctor to determine if they should remain on their antidepressant during pregnancy. Many heart problems are treatable, they said, and it is important to weigh the mother’s mental well-being against the risks to the baby.
The authors also noted that other antidepressants in the same class – such as Celexa (citalopram) and Zoloft (sertraline) – have not been linked to any increased risk.
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