Looking through PubMed Health, a medical research database curated by the United States National Library of Medicine and The National Institutes of Health, I recently found an article from The British Journal of Psychiatry by H.M. Jensen titled “Maternal depression, antidepressant use in pregnancy and Apgar scores in infants.”. This team of Danish medical researchers delved further in the link between low APGAR score and SSRI exposure in pregnancy. Apgar score is a measure of neonatal adaptation to life outside the womb.
Studying “all pregnant women in Denmark from 1996 to 2006 linking nationwide individualised data from the Medical Birth Register, the Psychiatric Central Register and the National Prescription database”, this team found that “Infants exposed to antidepressants during pregnancy had an increased rate of a low Apgar score (odds ratio (OR) = 1.72, 95% CI 1.34-2.20). The increased rate was only found among infants exposed to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) (OR = 1.96, 95% CI 1.52-2.54), not among those exposed to newer … or older antidepressants”.
These figures show that the risk for low Apgar score 72% higher in antidepressant-exposed children, and that children exposed specifically to SSRI drugs were 96% more likely to have low Apgar scores.
This team concluded that “Use of SSRIs during pregnancy increases the risk of a low Apgar score independently of maternal depression.”
Since thousands of women have used SSRIs while pregnant unaware of these and other risks (due to manufacturer failure to warn), SSRI birth defect lawsuits have been filed in great number over the past few decades.
If you or a loved one used SSRIs and gave birth to a child with a birth defect 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.