Paxil Can Cause Heart Defect in Newborns

Montreal, CanadaThere are many side effects associated with the antidepressant Paxil, but certainly one of the scariest is the risk of heart defects in newborns whose mothers took the drug.

span itemprop="image" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/ImageObject" style="display:block">A recent study showed that pregnant woman who take selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors like Paxil are not only more likely to deliver children with birth defects but also are at an increased risk of miscarriage, according to the Telegraph.

The study revealed that combining two different medications designed to combat depression could double the risk of miscarriage.

"These results, which suggest an overall class effect of selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, are highly robust given the large number of users studied," Dr. Anick Berard, who led the study, told the news source. "Physicians who have patients of child-bearing age taking antidepressants or have pregnant patients who require antidepressant therapy early in pregnancy discuss the risks and benefits with them."

It is estimated that more than one expectant mother in 30 takes an antidepressant with selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, meaning there are a number of pregnant woman whose children may suffer a heart defect.