Antidepressant use during pregnancy puts newborns at increased health risk.Byline: ANI Washington, Oct 6 (ANI): Use of antidepressants Antidepressants Medications prescribed to relieve major depression. Classes of antidepressants include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (fluoxetine/Prozac, sertraline/Zoloft), tricyclics (amitriptyline/ Elavil), MAOIs (phenelzine/Nardil), and heterocyclics during pregnancy might put the newborn child at increased health risk, according to researchers. The study led by Dr Najaaraq Lund showed that exposure to certain class of antidepressants can increase the risk of preterm birth, and can affect the overall health of the newborn. The mothers are also likely to be admitted in the neonatal intensive care unit Noun 1. neonatal intensive care unit - an intensive care unit designed with special equipment to care for premature or seriously ill newborn NICU ICU, intensive care unit - a hospital unit staffed and equipped to provide intensive care . "Depression, antidepressants and lifestyle factors associated with depression may influence pregnancy outcomes and newborn health," said the authors. "The safety profile of antidepressant antidepressant, any of a wide range of drugs used to treat psychic depression. They are given to elevate mood, counter suicidal thoughts, and increase the effectiveness of psychotherapy. medication in pregnancy is undetermined, but depression during pregnancy can be serious and has been associated with an increased maternal mortality," they added. A class of antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors Definition Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are medicines that relieve symptoms of depression. Purpose (SSRIs) have been used during pregnancy since the early 1990s and are recommended as the first choice for pregnant women in many countries. During the study, the researchers compared birth outcomes including gestational age, birth weight and Apgar (a measure of overall health of the baby) among babies born to 329 women who were treated with SSRIs, The findings revealed that women who took SSRIs during pregnancy gave birth an average of five days earlier and had twice the risk of preterm delivery. Infants exposed to the medications in utero were significantly more likely than the two groups not exposed to have a five-minute Apgar score of seven or below (seven is a general indicator of good infant health) or to be admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU NICU abbr. neonatal intensive-care unit ). "The study justifies increased awareness to the possible effects of intrauterine intrauterine /in·tra·uter·ine/ (-u´ter-in) within the uterus. in·tra·u·ter·ine adj. Within the uterus. Intrauterine Situated or occuring in the uterus. exposure to antidepressants," the authors said. "However, treatment of depression during pregnancy may be warranted and future studies need to distinguish between individual SSRIs to find the safest medication," they added. The study appears in Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. (ANI) Copyright 2009 Asian News International The Asian News International (ANI) agency provides multimedia news to China and 50 bureaus in India. It covers virtually all of South Asia since its foundation and presently claims, on its official website, to be the leading South Asia-wide news agency. (ANI) - All Rights Reserved. Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company |
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