Anti-depressant stillbirth link

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Use of a type of anti-depressant medication during pregnancy may

increase the risk of a stillborn baby, research suggests.

A Canadian study of almost 5,000 mothers found those who used SSRIs

were also more likely to have premature and low birth weight babies.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4886762.stm

However experts said women should not stop taking medication without

expert advice.

The study is published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and

Gynaecology.

Pregnant women should continue taking their medication as normal

Charlotte Davies

The researchers, from the University of Ottawa, compared the health

of babies born to 972 women taking SSRI anti-depressants with that

of babies born to mothers who did not use anti-depressants.

SSRIs, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors work by increasing

levels of the mood chemical serotonin in the brain. They include

Prozac.

The researchers found women using the drugs were twice as likely to

have a stillbirth. They were also almost twice as likely to have a

low birth weight baby.

Almost 20% of women who used SSRIs gave birth prematurely, compared

to 12% of those who did not use the drugs.

Babies born to women using SSRIs were also more likely to have

seizures.

Benefits and risks

The researchers said women should be fully briefed about the

potential risk of SSRIs before taking a decision about whether or

not to use them.

Charlotte Davies, of Tommy's, the baby charity said pregnant women

could opt for other types of anti-depressant medication.

She said: " Whilst this study has found a correlation between SSRIs

and pregnancy complications, it has in no way confirmed a clear

causal effect between the two, so pregnant women should continue

taking their medication as normal.

" Left untreated, the physical and psychological effects of

depression can lead to problems during pregnancy.

" Sufferers of depression are far more likely to smoke, as well as

lose their appetites and in extreme cases are more likely to attempt

suicide, which can all have devastating effects on mother and baby. "

Other doubts

Previous research has also raised doubts about the safety of using

SSRIs while pregnant.

Last year Danish and US scientists found use of the drugs in the

first three months of pregnancy was linked to a 40% increased risk

of birth defects such as cleft palate.

That research also suggested that use of SSRIs in pregnancy raised

the risk of a premature birth.

In a separate study, Spanish research found that babies whose

mothers used SSRIs are at risk of being born with withdrawal

symptoms.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has warned

doctors not to prescribe most SSRI drugs, apart from Prozac, to

children.

This followed evidence that use of the drugs in young people might

increase the risk of suicidal behaviour.

A spokesman for Eli Lilly, which manufactures, Prozac said the

company had never promoted the use of the drug for pregnant or

nursing mothers.