The objective of a study titled “Risks Associated with Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors in Pregnancy”, done by researchers from the Teratology Information Service, HUSLAB, at Helsinki University Central Hospital in Finland, was to determine the effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) on pregnancy outcomes; and implicitly, to determine the likelihood that children whose mothers used SSRI drugs during pregnancy with be born with birth defects.
In the past, research has shown that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors contain chemicals that may increase the risk of major congenital malformations in offspring exposed during early development, and SSRIs have long been known to have certain fetus-damaging capabilities. This study was population based study of 1,782 women who had taken an SSRI during pregnancy. A national project done in Finland was used to link information from the Drug Reimbursement Register, The Medical Birth Register, the Register of Congenital Malformations, and the Register of Induced Abortions to obtain information for this project. Malm states “Comparisons were made between women with SSRI purchases to matched controls and between women with purchases in different trimesters. Only singleton pregnancies were included. Primary outcomes were major malformations, preterm birth, small for gestational age, low birth weight, and treatment in neonatal special or intensive care unit. Analyses were based on logistic models.”
Results show that major malformations were not more common in infants of women who took an SSRI during the first trimester of pregnancy, when compared with the control group of mothers who were not exposed to an SSRI during any part of their pregnancy. Over 15 percent of infants who were exposed to SSRIs during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy were treated in special or intensive care units. This was slightly higher than infants exposed only during the 1st trimester, which was 11.2 percent.
Malm further explains “We found no increased risk of preterm birth (< 37 weeks), birth 32 weeks of gestation or less, small for gestational age, or low birth weight in women with purchases in each trimester or during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters when compared with women with only 1st trimester purchases.” There was not a clear connection made between the use of SSRIs during pregnancy with an increased risk of adverse perinatal outcome.
This article and ones like it could be used in an SSRI birth defects lawsuit (e.g. Paxil lawsuit, Prozac lawsuit, Effexor lawsuit, Celexa lawsuit, Zoloft lawsuit, or others) to demonstrate to a court that the manufacturers of these drugs knew or should have known the risks for birth defects associated with SSRIs.
If you or a loved one used SSRIs during pregnancy and your child was born with a congenital malformation, you may be eligible to file an SSRI birth defect lawsuit seeking compensation for the undue injury caused to your child. For more information on SSRI birth defects or a free, no-obligation case consultation, please do not hesitate to contact our team of SSRI birth defects lawyers at the information provided below.
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Our SSRI Birth Defects Lawsuit Information page is a great place to start if you have any questions about SSRIs and Birth Defects.