Pregnancy And Paxil-related Birth Defect

Pregnancy And Paxil-related Birth Defect

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Pregnancy is defined as the gestational process, comprising the growth and development within a woman of a new individual from conception to birth. It lasts approximately 266 days or 38 weeks from the day of fertilization, but it is clinically considered to last 280 days or 40 weeks from the first day of the last menstrual period. It is usually divided into three trimesters, each lasting for about three months. To guarantee a healthy mother and baby, all throughout pregnancy the condition of the two separate individuals is constantly monitored. The health of the newborn and occurrence of some birth defects like Paxil Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension greatly depends on the general health condition of the mother and drugs she is taking during pregnancy.

According to a side effect study of SSRI medications, infants who were born to mothers who were taking the drug during pregnancy are 6 times more likely to develop PPHN than those who were not exposed. Persistent pulmonary hypertension occurs when the normal circulatory system of the newborn fails to adapt to the breathing outside the womb. The baby typically has rapid breathing, rapid heart rate, respiratory distress, cyanosis, low oxygen levels, and heart murmurs. This is most often seen on term or near-term neonates and may be life-threatening.

On February 2006, the New England Journal of Medicine published a study which pointed out that women who were on SSRI like Paxil, during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy are at greater risk of having a baby with PPHN than those who werent taking any medication. In addition, mothers who are on Paxil during pregnancy have a one and a half to two times chance of giving birth to a baby with life-threatening heart malformations. Because of this, FDA has issued a public health advisory that warns the health care professionals about the increased risk of developing birth defects on newborns whose mothers where taking Paxil during pregnancy. To emphasize a stronger warning about its intake during pregnancy, Paxil is now placed on pregnancy category D from category C.

There have been reports of Paxil PPHN and other congenital defects. The FDA advised health care providers to refrain from prescribing paroxetine-containing medications like Paxil to patients except in cases where other treatment options had failed. It is important for pregnant women prescribed with Paxil to know the possible effects of the drug and that they are fully informed of the drugs actions. The health care provider and the pregnant woman are to discuss this thoroughly.


About the Author:
Paxil is connected to several birth defects including congenital heart disease, Paxil Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension and brain defects among newborns of mothers who took this drug during pregnancy. Know more about the birth defects and the drug's side effects here.



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


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