Fwd: SSRI's found to adversely affect newborns during first days of life

[Guest guest]

DARocksMom

Sat, 26 Jul 2003 12:19:36 EDT

Fwd: SSRI's found to adversely affect newborns during first days of

life

undisclosed-recipients:;

 

 

 

 

SSRI's found to adversely affect newborns during first days of life

Sat, 26 Jul 2003 11:26:06 -0400

 

ALLIANCE FOR HUMAN RESEARCH PROTECTION (AHRP)

http://www.ahrp.org

Contact: Vera Hassner Sharav

Tel: 212-595-8974

e-mail: veracare

 

FYI

 

Doctors prescribing antidepressant drugs (SSRIs) to pregnant

women may be faced with liability claims, as these drugs are shown

to adversely affect unborn and newborn babies' central nervous system

 

A new report in the Archives of General Psychiatry found:

" We report increased risk for central nervous system serotonergic

adverse effects during the first days of life in newborns of mothers

taking the SSRIs citalopram or fluoxetine during the third trimester

of pregnancy, " they write. " The clinical relevance of the present

results is awareness of the psychiatrists who prescribe SSRIs during

pregnancy and the pediatricians who treat the serotonin-related

neurologic symptoms of the newborns during the first days of life.

Although these effects seem to subside quickly, they may expose the

infants to more serious neonatal complications such as convulsions. "

 

The question is: How long before the FDA calls for a warning

on these drugs' label?

 

 

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/458559

MEDSCAPE

Use of SSRIs During Pregnancy May Cause Neurologic Symptoms in Newborns

 

Laurie Barclay, MD

 

July 14, 2003 — Newborns of mothers receiving fluoxetine or citalopram

exhibited symptoms of central serotonin overstimulation for about four days,

according to the results of a prospective trial published in the July issue

of the Archives of General Psychiatry. The investigators warn of potential

neurologic adverse effects from selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors

(SSRIs) used during late pregnancy.

 

" SSRIs have gained wide acceptance in the treatment of mental disorders in

pregnant women, but there seems to be an increased risk for neonatal

adaptation problems after exposure to SSRIs in late pregnancy, " write Kari

Laine, MD, PhD, from the University of Turku in Finland, and colleagues.

They cite previous studies suggesting that exposure to SSRIs during the

third trimester may cause irritability, constant crying, eating and sleeping

difficulties, and even seizures in newborns.

 

Between January 1, 1997, and August 31, 2000, Dr. Laine's group enrolled 40

pregnant women, including 20 who were taking SSRIs during pregnancy and

breast-feeding and 20 who were not taking any psychoactive medications. All

infants had neurologic assessments during the first four days of life and at

two weeks and two months of age after delivery, as well as brain ultrasound

and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) 38 to 42 weeks after conception and at

two months of age.

During the first two months of life, blood pressure, heart rate, and body

temperature were similar in both groups. During the first four days of life,

the serotonergic symptom score reflecting tremor, restlessness, and rigidity

was four times higher in the SSRI group than in the control group (P =

..008). Serotonin-related symptoms declined significantly in the SSRI group

from the first four days to two weeks, and there was no significant

difference in serotonergic symptom score between the two groups at two

weeks.

 

Cord blood concentration of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) was

significantly lower in the SSRI group than in the control group (P = .02).

Umbilical vein 5-HIAA concentration was inversely correlated with

serotonergic symptom score in the SSRI group (r = -0.66; P = .007) but not

in the control group.

 

Because the symptoms resolved quickly while SSRI concentrations were

decreasing, the authors suggest that the symptoms are related to central

nervous system serotonergic overstimulation rather than to SSRI withdrawal

syndrome.

 

" We report increased risk for central nervous system serotonergic adverse

effects during the first days of life in newborns of mothers taking the

SSRIs citalopram or fluoxetine during the third trimester of pregnancy, "

they write. " The clinical relevance of the present results is awareness of

the psychiatrists who prescribe SSRIs during pregnancy and the pediatricians

who treat the serotonin-related neurologic symptoms of the newborns during

the first days of life. Although these effects seem to subside quickly, they

may expose the infants to more serious

neonatal complications such as convulsions. "

 

The Turku University Hospital Research Fund supported this study.

Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2003;60:720-726

Reviewed by Gary D. Vogin, MD

 

 

FAIR USE NOTICE: This may contain copyrighted (© ) material the use of which

has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Such

material is made available to advance understanding of ecological,

political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, moral, ethical,

and social justice issues, etc. It is believed that this constitutes a 'fair

use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the

US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this

material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior

general interest in receiving similar information for research and

educational purposes. For more information go to:

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml If you wish to use

copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you

must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

 

 

 

 

 

@

 

Alternative Medicine/Health-Vitamins, Herbs, Aminos, etc.

 

To , e-mail to:

alternative_medicine_forum-

 

Or, go to our group site at:

alternative_medicine_forum