Newborns May Suffer from Birth Defects When Mothers Take Paxil During Pregnancy

Antidepressants belonging under a drug classification called SSRIs or Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors work mainly by balancing the chemicals in the brain that affect the activity of neurotransmitters. Experts believe that an imbalance in these chemicals can cause depression.

The FDA approved Paxil, an antidepressant manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline. The company says that 25% of individuals who take Paxil are women between 18 and 45 years of age. However, a link between Paxil use in pregnancy and Paxil brain defects have been found out through studies.

What does Paxil Treat?

Depression, obsessive compulsive disroder, panic disorder, mood disorders and other serious mental disorders are some of the disorders that is treated with a Paxil precription. This was also the first medication to be approved to treat social anxiety disorder (SAD).

Why SSRIs such as Paxil Could be Dangerous

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration reviewed studies that say that women who took Paxil during the first three months of their pregnancy were at least one and a half times more likely to have babies who suffer from birth defects. "Healthcare professionals are advised to carefully weigh the potential risks and benefits of using [Paxil] in women during pregnancy and to discuss these findings as well as treatment alternatives with their patients," is what the FDA said in a news release made in 2005.

What are Paxil Birth Defects?

Using Paxil in pregnancy could cause the following brith defects:

• cleft palate
• clubbed foot
• craniosynostosis
• brain defects
• macrocephaly
• Paxil withdrawal
• miscarriage
• gastrochisis abdominal hernia
• heart defects
• spina bifida
• premature birth
• neural tube defects
• PPHN or persistent pulmonary hypertension
• developmental delay
• cleft lip

Paxil's official website also said, "Babies born to mothers who have taken antidepressants, including SSRIs such as Paxil, in the third trimester of pregnancy have reported complications, including difficulties with breathing, turning blue, seizures, changing body temperature, feeding problems, vomiting, low blood sugar, floppiness, stiffness, tremor, shakiness, irritability or constant crying. Tube feeding, help with breathing and longer hospitalization may be needed. There have also been reports of premature births in pregnant women exposed to SSRIs, including Paxil.”

Already classified as a pregnancy category D drug by the FDA which means that Paxil demonstrates a risk to the fetus through findings of studies, this antidepressant is prescribed with extreme caution to pregnant women. However, several have found themselves affected with the serious side effects and birth defects that are caused by taking this drug.