Are Antidepressants Safe For Pregnant Women?
8th May 2012 by Depressed No CommentsHaving a baby is any woman’s momentous celebration. But, it is not always one where happiness brims over. Antepartum and postpartum depression afflicts a sizable percentage of women according to The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists ( ACOG). Roughly 14%-23% of women are likely to suffer from antebellum depression, and 5%-25% of women will experience postpartum depression.
The symptoms differ from woman to woman but among the common ones are anger or irritability, fear or guilt, lack of interest in the baby, lack of appetite, insomnia or any other sleep disorder, difficulty concentrating and or making decisions, and one may entertain thoughts of harming the baby or oneself. These are symptoms that are easily passed off as hormonal imbalance that is normal in any pregnancy.
Depression is more than just a temporary hormonal change but a real ailment caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. If not treated properly, this could progress into a condition that would negatively affect both the mother and the baby. If disregarded, it may lead to more serious problems for both the mother and the baby. Medical experts noted that women who are depressed are more likely to turn to smoking and drugs. In addition, severe cases of depression are linked to certain birth complications such as preeclampsia, premature birth, and low birth weight . Studies revealed that untreated maternal depression produced negative effects on an infant’s cognitive, neurologic, and motor skill development, and can also negatively impact mental health and behavior of older children.
Treatment of depression is mainly focused on psychotherapy and antidepressant medication. Bright morning light therapy, acupuncture, and exercise are considered as alternative approaches. Screening of expecting women for depressive ailments is considered important by ACOG to ensure the safety and well-being of both the mother and her baby.
In many cases, pregnant women who want to forego drug treatment for depression, sometimes have to choose between the lesser of two evils. Would the benefits of antidepressant outweigh its risks on the baby? Or do they opt for a safer route for the baby and risk on a relapse? Medical experts believed that risks of antidepressants while real, are considerably low vis-à-vis the negative effects of untreated depression on pregnant women.
The efficacy and safety of taking antidepressants have been the subject of many research studies. Many remain skeptical over the benefits outweighing the side effects of such drugs. Mitchell Mathis, M.D., deputy director of the Division of Psychiatry Products at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said that approximately 60 to 70 percent among patients respond to the first antidepressant prescribed to them. There are certain risks though for pregnant women. FDA released a report cautioning pregnant women against taking Paxil due to the drug’s potential high risks. The advisory was issued due to positive evidence of Paxil birth defects which triggered the agency to change the drug’s risk category from C to D.
URL References
http://www.acog.org/About_ACOG/News_Room/News_Releases/2010/Perinatal_and_Postpartum_Depression_a_Top_Priority
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/antidepressants/DN00007
http://www.fda.gov/forconsumers/consumerupdates/ucm095980.htm
