SSRIs increase birth defects?

[bibliojo]

I was talking with a friend who is a nurse today, and knowing that I am on Celexa mentioned to me that a doctor she works with said that a study was released at the end of November saying that ALL SSRIs have been shown to double or triple the incidents of birth defects. Has anybody heard this? Is this for real? If so, this just sucks. I don't know what to do. Celexa has definately helped me, but I don't want to increase my chances of harming my future baby.

Joanna

[carla]

YIKES!!!

I chatted with the Dr. about it, and he said that it seemed to be safe, but to wean off it at 37 weeks, that way there will not be any withdrawl effects for baby.

Can you tell me more about the study, and where I can find the research??

[aaronsmommy]

I think she's confused. The stuff about Paxil came out in Nov, but it was specifically for paxil (the same study showed the same risk of birth defects with the other drugs studied). Ant the risk was an increase of about 11/2-2 times the risk of cardiac defects only (most of which were mild).

Here's the study http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/content/full/173/11/1320

and the FDA alert
http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/advisory/p ... 200512.htm

Motherisk would have all of the information available on Celexa - why don't you give them a call.

[bibliojo]

Thank you Aimee. I had read about the Paxil advisory and thought it really wierd I hadn't heard anything about this so called study on all SSRIs. Something like that would have been broadcast far and wide to make all women on anti-depressants feel guilty!

I was going to call Motherisk about it if nobody here knew anything about it. I still may give them a call. I'll let you know if and what I find out.

Joanna

[carla]

thanks Amiee,

I think I am going to be able to sleep again tonight! The effects of the study are interesting, but do limit the results to Paxil. Wouldn't they be able to detect these defects with an U/S anyway? I am a bit confused about that?

[IslandDreamer]

For anyone taking Prozac: When I had my genetic counseling with Jack, the counselor was completely unconcerned about Prozac, and so were the folks at Motherisk. (But Prozac is one of the meds that give baby withdrawal....though we escaped that with Jack.)