With the association of Zoloft to the increased risk of birth defects in infants whose mothers were treated with the antidepressant drug during their pregnancy, it is alarming to note that a study has suggested that there is also an
increase in the number of women taking medication, including antidepressants, during their pregnancy. The number of women taking medication in their first trimester 30 years ago has increased to more than 60 percent now said researchers from the Boston University School of Public Health.
The birth defects could result to permanent injury or even death to the infants as they could either be a minor or life-threatening problem. For the past 10 years, proof associating Zoloft, manufactured by Pfizer, and other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) to birth defects have increased.
Recommended for the treatment of depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic attacks, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), social anxiety disorder and premenstrual dysphoric disorder, Zoloft or Sertraline is one of the most prescribed drug in the world. The medication works by increasing serotonin, a natural substance in the brain, needed to maintain mental balance.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an alert in the prescription of the drug after several studies suggested that infants born to mothers who took Zoloft or other SSRIs after the 20th week of their pregnancy were six times more likely to have persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN) as compared to infants whose mothers did not take antidepressants during their pregnancy. PPHN is a condition wherein newborns are not getting enough oxygen into their bloodstream because of the increased pressure in the blood vessels in their lungs.
In addition to neonatal PPHN, Zoloft is also linked to several other birth defects such as septal heart defects wherein the baby has a hole in the heart and omphalocele, a condition wherein some parts of the babys intestines are found outside the abdominal wall. And the list of birth defects does not stop there as studies now include cranial skull defects, spina bifida, anal atresia and limb reduction defects. Infants inflicted with any of these birth defects would need to undergo prolonged hospitalization, respiratory support, and tube feeding.
Some problems such as respiratory distress, cyanosis, apnea, seizures, temperature instability, feeding difficulty, vomiting, hypoglycemia, hypotonia, hypertonia, hyperreflexia, tremor, jitteriness, irritability, and constant crying could occur during the babys delivery. These defects are listed as probably due to either a direct toxic effect of the medication or a drug withdrawal syndrome on the Zoloft drug insert.
The lack of adequate, well-controlled studies in pregnant women prompted FDA to classify Zoloft as a Pregnancy category C drug. The benefits of using SSRIs during pregnancy should be weighed against the potential risks it poses, according to the DFA which also recommended a thorough discussion between doctors and patients.
