Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRIs) is a classification of an antidepressant that works by balancing brain chemicals that affect its neurotransmitters. Depression may be caused by this imbalance, many experts believe.
The FDA approved Paxil, an antidepressant manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline. The company says that 25% of individuals who take Paxil are women of childbearing age between 18 and 45 years old. However, a link between Paxil use in pregnancy and Paxil brain defects have been found out through studies.
What does Paxil Treat?
Depression, obsessive compulsive disroder, panic disorder, mood disorders and other serious mental disorders are some of the disorders that is treated with a Paxil precription. Paxil is the first ever medication to be approved for use to treat social anxiety disorder or SAD.
Why SSRIs such as Paxil Could be Dangerous
There were studies reviewed by the U.S Food and Drug Administration which state that women who took Paxil during the first three months of their pregnancy were at least one and a half times more likely to have babies who suffer from birth defects. In a news release made in 2005, the FDA states, “Healthcare professionals are advised to carefully weigh the potential risks and benefits of using [Paxil] in women during pregnancy and to discuss these findings as well as treatment alternatives with their patients.”
What are Paxil Birth Defects?
Some of the known birth defects that Paxil could cause are the following:
- Paxil withdrawal
- neural tube defects
- premature birth
- craniosynostosis
- gastrochisis abdominal hernia
- spina bifida
- cleft palate
- clubbed foot
- cleft lip
- miscarriage
- developmental delay
- brain defects
- heart defects
- macrocephaly
- PPHN or persistent pulmonary hypertension
In a post from Paxil’s website, it states, “Babies born to mothers who have taken antidepressants, including SSRIs such as Paxil, in the third trimester of pregnancy have reported complications, including difficulties with breathing, turning blue, seizures, changing body temperature, feeding problems, vomiting, low blood sugar, floppiness, stiffness, tremor, shakiness, irritability or constant crying. Tube feeding, help with breathing and longer hospitalization may be needed. There have also been reports of premature births in pregnant women exposed to SSRIs, including Paxil.”
Paxil is classified as a pregnancy category D drug by the FDA which means that studies made have concluded that Paxil could pose a health threat on newborns. But there are more and more people finding out that they have been affected by the birth defects caused by this drug.