One of the most joyful events in a woman’s life is being pregnant, however approximately one out of five women are depressed during this special time. Not only is it difficult for the expectant mother, but it can have bad effects on the unborn infant.
Mothers who have depression have a tendency to drink more, smoke more, or consume a poor diet while trying to handle their depressed feelings inappropriately. Of course, it is necessary for the mother and child’s health that depression problems are treated; however, are antidepressants the solution? Previously, it was considered safe to take antidepressants while pregnant, however currently there are doubts about how safe it is.
Are Antidepressants Dangerous While Pregnant?
What are the dangers of taking antidepressants while being pregnant? There is an increasing issue that taking antidepressants while pregnant might put a fetus at greater risk of having birth defects. A group of drugs called SSRI’s are being watched carefully since current research revealed they are connected to a slightly greater chance of birth defects. Research revealed that females who used Paxil while pregnant in their first trimester had double the risk of having babies with structural heart ailments.
Using antidepressants in the second part of pregnancy doesn’t appear to be less risky. Research revealed that using Paxil during this time caused a higher risk of pulmonary hypertension, a lung problem. If this problem isn’t dealt with immediately, the death rate could be as much as one out of ten, plus some babies that live will have permanent neurological damage.
Other types of antidepressants could be dangerous while pregnant also, but there isn’t enough information available. Tricyclic antidepressants – previously used to help depression – have been connected to deformed limbs, but current studies haven’t verified this. Wellbutrin is an antidepressant that doesn’t appear to be dangerous during pregnancy.
Substitutes for Antidepressants While Pregnant
With the possible dangers of taking antidepressants while pregnant, what choices do pregnant women have? Right now, Wellbutrin seems to be harmless for females who require prescription treatment.
In some situations, being depressed while pregnant can be helped without prescriptions and taken care of with stress relief methods like yoga, biofeedback, or counseling.
Antidepressants While You Are Pregnant: What Is The Bottom Line?
Don’t quit taking antidepressant medications without a doctor’s supervision because it can cause you to be dizzy, have a headache or insomnia if the medicine is stopped immediately. The best method is to discuss medication choices with your doctor.
Tags: antidepressants, hypertension, pregnant
