SSRIs: Pregnant Women Stuck in a Difficult Decision

Pittsburgh, PAWhen it comes to making difficult decisions, this one might just rank right up there with the toughest: whether or not to take selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) while pregnant. SSRIs are antidepressants, but they have been linked in some studies to serious birth defects. Thus, pregnant women have a very difficult decision to make—choosing between treating their depression and potentially having a child with serious health problems, or not treating the depression and dealing with the potential consequences that may carry.

Of course, there are many women who already had their babies who say they had no idea that SSRIs could cause any health problems for their children. They say they were told that SSRIs—including Paxil, Prozac, Celexa and Effexor—were completely safe. Now, some studies, including one published in The New England Journal of Medicine, are calling that safety into question, and leaving mothers wondering if their medications caused their babies' birth defects, which include primary pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN)

"I took Paxil and my daughter was born with multiple heart defects," writes Laura P. (name withheld). Laura writes that her daughter will need extended medical care throughout her life and the family has dealt with extreme stress due to the little girl's birth defects.

Children who survive their birth defects often face lifelong medical care and repeated surgeries. Furthermore, many of them are not able to live normal lives because of their heart problems.

"My son was born with bicuspid aortic valve stenosis," writes Sandra T. (name withheld). "My son will definitely need surgery to correct this…possibly open heart. He cannot play any competitive sports and cannot physically keep up with the other kids."

The other half of the issue is that depression during pregnancy carries its own potential consequences. According to an article in The Atlanta Journal Constitution (ajc.com, July 19, 2009), depression during pregnancy is linked to nearly double the risk of delivering a baby before 37 weeks. Furthermore, early delivery is a leading cause of infant mortality.

Meanwhile, a 2008 bulletin updated by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists suggested that pregnant women avoid Paxil and recommended individualized treatment with antidepressants.