Study Finds Prozac Birth Defects, Other Adverse Reactions

Copenhagen, DenmarkA recent Danish study found a high number of Prozac birth defects among the children of women who took the drug while pregnant.

The study, conducted by the University of Copenhagen, warns that Prozac and other psychotropic drugs can cause serious birth defects and other maladies, according to United Press International.

Researchers discovered 429 instances of adverse reactions when women took the drugs while pregnant. Of those 429 cases, more than half involved serious reactions and a number of them involved birth defects.

"We are constantly reminded about the dangers of alcohol use and smoking during pregnancy, but there is no information offered to women with regards to use of psychotropic medication," researcher Lisa Aagaard said in a statement. "There is simply not enough knowledge available in this area."

Researchers found that 42 percent of the reactions were linked to psychostimulants like Ritalin, 31 percent to antidepressants such as Prozac and 24 to anti-psychotics like Haldol.

The study looked into 4,500 adverse reaction reports related to children from 1998 to 2007 to figure out whether the cases were connected to psychotropic drugs.