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The connection between Antidepressants and birth defects is a frightening one for any woman who is taking SSRI medications. Studies have shown that Antidepressants and other similar types of antidepressants may affect an unborn baby’s body, resulting in abnormalities.

The connection between Antidepressants and birth defects is a frightening one for any woman who is taking SSRI medications. Studies have shown that Antidepressants and other similar types of antidepressants may affect an unborn baby’s body, resulting in abnormalities.

Antidepressants are a type of medication called a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI). Antidepressants, like Zoloft and Paxil, balance the amount of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is a chemical that is believed to affect mood. A lack of serotonin is thought to be a cause of depression.

The newer SSRIs are considered an improvement over previous generations of antidepressants because they have fewer side effects. However, for reasons not completely understood, SSRIs also increase the incidences of certain birth defects when taken by pregnant women.

Depression During Pregnancy

At least one-fifth of pregnant women experience signs of depression. They may have been depressed before the pregnancy, and perhaps received treatment. Or the stress and hormonal changes of pregnancy may be the cause of depression or anxiety. At any rate, the research is quite clear—women who receive treatment for depression during pregnancy are more likely to have healthier babies than women whose depression is untreated during the pregnancy. Studies have shown that untreated women are more likely to deliver babies prematurely and at low birth weights.

Antidepressants and Birth Defects

Given this information, doctors had prescribed Antidepressants for use during the pregnancy for years. New studies emerged, however, showing that pregnant women who took Antidepressants had a higher percentage of babies with specific birth defects than those who did not. When taken in the early stages of pregnancy, babies had a higher risk of heart problems. Babies were born with septal defects, or holes in the wall that separated the chambers of the heart. Some holes closed over time, but for some babies, numerous surgeries were required to repair the damage.

Abnormalities in the abdomen and skull were also seen. Infant omphalocele is a condition where the abdomen does not grow large enough to contain the intestines, and as a result, the intestines create a bulge through the naval opening, which must be corrected with surgery. Craniosynostosis occurs when fibrous joints that help draw the bones in the skull together close prematurely. The brain may not have enough room to develop. Skull and facial abnormalities can occur. Surgery that separates these joints may be effective, particularly if there is no other underlying condition.

When Antidepressants are taken during the third trimester, babies can develop a serious condition at birth called Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN), in which the body does not make the automatic switch from getting oxygen through the umbilical cord to breathing oxygen into the lungs. Immediate treatment is necessary to prevent serious illness or death. This treatment may include the use of oxygen, a ventilator or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Although the FDA has issued a warning about the risks of Antidepressants during pregnancy, for many families, this comes too late. If you have used Antidepressants during pregnancy and have a baby who has had one of these birth defects, you may be eligible for legal compensation.

Resources:

David Harris is the author of this article on Class Action Lawsuit.
Find more information about Class Action Lawsuits here.