Paxil: Another Study on the Consequences of SSRIs

Atlanta, GAIf there were not already enough studies on the risk of Paxil birth defects, yet another study has been published linking the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) to birth problems. In the wake of it, women are left to ask whether the benefit of taking SSRIs, such as Paxil, is worth the risk. While some studies indicate that the risk of Paxil side effects is high, some experts say the risk of untreated depression is also serious.

According to the study, published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine (October, 2009) newborns who were exposed to SSRIs prior to birth "had an increased risk of preterm delivery, a low 5-minute Apgar score and admission to a neonatal intensive care unit, which was not explained by lower Apgar scores or gestational age."

Outcomes that did not differ between the infants exposed to SSRIs and those who were not exposed to SSRIs were birth weight and head circumference.

An Apgar score is used to determine the overall wellbeing of a newborn. The Apgar test scores are recorded at one minute of life and five minutes of life, according to the American Pregnancy Association. The one minute test gives the doctor information about the newborn's physical health and how well it tolerated the delivery process, which can help the doctor determine whether immediate or future medical treatment is necessary. The five minute test measures the infant's ability to adapt to the environment and its response to any necessary resuscitation efforts.

Conditions evaluated in the test include the baby's color, heart rate, muscle tone, reflex and respiratory effort. The infant is then given a score of between one and 10. A low score—less than four—may mean that the baby needs lifesaving measures. Median scores—between four and six—mean the baby may need some help with breathing. Scores above six generally mean that the baby needs only routine care.

Lower scores do not necessarily mean that the baby will suffer permanent problems, such as future health problems or learning disabilities. However, they do mean that the baby needs more than routine care in the time following delivery.

This latest study comes on the heels of a Danish study, published in the British Medical Journal BMJ, which found a link between pregnancy women's use of some SSRIs and an increased risk of a heart defect in the newborn.

The studies have further complicated the issue as to whether or not pregnant women should take SSRIs like Paxil during pregnancy and risk the potential side effects of fetal exposure or face the risks of having untreated depression. According to The New York Times, (October 5, 2009), studies have linked depression during pregnancy to premature delivery, irritability and inattention after birth and growth changes.