- Reuters reports that a new research study shows that antidepressants and Benzodiazepines can increase risk of premature birth.
- Women taking antidepressants during pregnancy increase chances of have a preterm baby by up to 5 times.
- Same risk not seen in women that started drug therapy before pregnancy or during first 3 months.
- Antidepressants on this list include Zoloft, Paxil, Prozac.
- Benzodiazepines linked to premature births include Atvian and Xanax.
CLICK HERE to read the full story.
Should pregnant women take drugs like antidepressants? What’s your opinion?
What about SNRIs? any research done on those? THis is something I’ve grappled with even though I’m not even close to having a kid. I am against risking the health of my child just so I can have more peace of mind but wonder alternatively if the anxiety fed to my child while pregnant could have negative effects as well…
Hi Emily,
You know I’m not sure about SNRI’s, I don’t think the story mentioned them.
But you’re right about this being a big issue for parents to be… it’s a tough call. But ultimately risking the health of your baby isn’t worth it. I guess in the worst case scenario women can just hold off during the course of the pregnancy and resume drug therapy just after delivery.
Hi
I’m very concerned. As I mentioned elsewhere in an other comment, I tried to reduce my medication to the point of discontinuation because I want to have a baby. I was fine and hopeful for a while but recently the incapacitating anxiety returned for a few weeks, calmed down, returned again and so on. I talked to my doctor and she’s seen me try to stop my medication several times over the years. Everytime I relapse. Her opinion is that I should take a higher dose of medicine because I’m obviously suffering greatly to the point I can hardly function due not only to the worry, but the heavy phisical symptoms that ensue. I can’t eat, I can’t sleep, my whole body is a mess. She told me that being anxious like that while pregnant is potentially more harmful to a baby than taking my meds. So I’m at a dead end. If I stop the meds, I’ll feel terrible and risk harming my child. If I take them, I’ll feel ok, but also risk harming my child. The dosage I take to feel ok is not really high. I have read studies about birth defects in women who take SSRI’s and I’m not a doctor but I think they had higher doses than what I take. But I could not forgive myself if I was responsible for my baby’s health issues. My doctor told me that the issues reported are not severe and can resolve on their own. She says that it’s also quite rare. I’m at a crossroad and feeling quite anxious recently, I don’t know what to think or do.
Suggestions?