There is a slight increase in risk of neural tube defects among babies exposed to selective seretonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), according to a new analysis based on national data from Finland. According to a study, about 22 out of 10,000 babies were born with the defect compared to only 9 out of 10,000 babies born to mothers who didn't take SSRIs.
The increased risk of heart defects that occurred among those whose mothers had used not only used SSRIs such as Prozac but also Zoloft and Celexa has reached nearly 500,000 Danish children, a recent study quoted Dr. Heli Malm as saying.
Zoloft known as sertraline hydrochloride belongs to one of four groups of an antidepressant drug called the SSRIs. It is used primarily in the treatment of major depressive illness, anxiety disorders, the depressed phase of bipolar disorder, and psychotic depression.
When used as a medication, antidepressant drug such as Zoloft can cause several side effects from mild to severe reaction, including Zoloft birth defects among women as stated in a study. An infant’s death was link with another Pfizer product. Expectant mothers taking antidepressant drugs like Zoloft is putting their unborn children at risk.
One of the common birth complications is the neural tube defect (NTD), which refers to an opening in the spinal cord or brain that occurs very early in human development. In the second week of pregnancy there is gastrulation in which specialized cells on the dorsal side of the fetus begin to fuse and form the neural tube. When the neural tube does not close completely, NTD develops, the study says.
Anencephaly and spinal bifida are the two most common neural tube defects according to the study. When experiencing spina bifida, the fetal column doesn’t close completely during the first month of pregnancy. In anencephaly, much of the brain does not develop. The brain does not develop in anencephaly. If babies have anencephaly, it will die shortly after birth or the mother will experience a stillbirth.
Before and during pregnancy, it is best to get enough folic acid, a type B vitamin to prevent the risk of neural tube defects. Filing a Zoloft Lawsuit is the best option if the intake of Zoloft during pregnancy causes the birth defect.
REFERENCES:
REFERENCES:
http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf09/folicacid/folicart.htm
