A warning for women who are pregnant, or plan to be: they should avoid taking certain Anti-Depressants because of a risk of birth defects.
Medical reporter Kathy Fowler reports with this story:
Kathy Fowler on set:
It’s estimated that more that 1% of pregnant women, about 40,000 total, take some form of Anti-Depressants. For the vast majority of these women, the drugs cause no problems but The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Warn the Anti-Depressant Paxil should be avoided.
Story:
From his very first breath, Adrian Vasquez has fought to stay alive.
Matilda: "I was just scared I was scared to death. I was just hearing all these machines and beeps."
Adrian was born with a potentially deadly heart condition. He’s now two and a half and has already endured three open heart surgeries. The family has no history of heart disease. Matilda now wonders if the Anti-Depressant, Paxil, she took for Anxiety caused the problem. When she was pregnant she asked her doctor if it was okay to keep taking the drug.
Late last year, the FDA issued a Public Health Advisory about Paxil after 2 studies suggested women who take the Anti-Depressant Paxil during the first 3 months of pregnancy were one and a half to 2 times more likely to have a baby with heart defeats as women who received other Anti-Depressants.
It leaves doctors and patients with serious decisions to make because depression during pregnancy comes with its own consequences.
Dr. Wayne Kramer, Perinatologist: "Postpartum depression is a serious risk to both mother and baby."
Dr. Wayne Kramer has this advice for women who are pregnant and suffer from depression.
Dr. Wayne Kramer: "If the patient feels she can go without it, one option is to go without it until around 32-34 weeks and then restart medication at that stage."
Kathy Fowler on set:
Taking Anti-Depressants late in pregnancy has been associated with fewer short-term complications to newborns.
Patients should discuss the risks of depression with the risks of Anti-Depressants to the baby with their doctor.
