A December, 2009 article published in Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology by S. Toh et al., titled “Antidepressant use during pregnancy and the risk of preterm delivery and fetal growth restriction” describes some of the potential adverse effects of prenatal exposure to a pregnant mother’s antidepressant drugs.
Toh et al. (2009) state that “Analysis included women with nonmalformed infants interviewed in the Slone Epidemiology Center Birth Defects Study between 1998 and 2008. We estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for premature and small-for-gestational age (SGA) offsprings, adjusting for sociodemographic, lifestyle, medical, and reproductive factors.”
Results showed that “The frequencies of preterm delivery were 7.3% among the 5710 nonusers (reference), 8.9% among the 192 selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) users (OR, 1.1; 95% CI, 0.6-2.0), and 15.3% among the 59 non-SSRI antidepressant users (OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.0-4.9)”.
This means that the risk for premature birth in women who used SSRI drugs while pregnant was increased from about 7% to about 9%. About 15% of women who used other antidepressants gave birth prematurely.
Researchers also found that “the respective frequencies of delivering an SGA offspring were 7.2%, 10.9% (OR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.0-2.7), and 13.6% (OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.0-4.9)”, demonstrating that the rate of children born small-for-gestational age was higher in women who used SSRIs during pregnancy.
As such, this paper concluded that “Women treated with SSRIs late in pregnancy had a higher frequency of delivering SGA infants, and women receiving non-SSRI antidepressants were more likely to deliver premature and SGA offsprings. … In any case, prenatal antidepressant use may help identify women at elevated risks of delivering preterm and SGA infants.”
Due to the fact that the manufacturers of many SSRI drugs have failed time and again to warn women of these risks, SSRI birth defect lawsuits are currently being filed in great number.
If you or a loved one used SSRIs during pregnancy and gave birth to a child with a congenital malformation or who had perinatal complications, you may be entitled to significant financial compensation. For a free, no-obligation case consultation, contact our team of SSRI birth defect lawyers at the information provided below. We have the experience, resources, and skills required to win the justice you deserve. Call today and see how we can help.
(855) 452 – 5529
Our SSRI Birth Defects Lawsuit Information page is a great place to start if you have any questions about SSRIs and Birth Defects.