Use of Anti-depressants During Pregnancy

Depression is common among women of reproductive age and an estimated 8% - 20% of women get depressed at some point in their lives.  Though it may sound benign, depression is not a mild problem and can have severe consequences such as suicide attempts.  Thus, whether or not to take these medications is a serious matter when weighing the risk of untreated depression to the mother, versus the risk to the fetus from taking an antidepressant drug.

Fortunately, now women who require anti-depressants and are looking to get pregnant have a reason to feel much relieved: a recent study on children born to mothers who had been taking tricyclic antidepressants or fluoxetine has cleared up the mixed messages about taking antidepressants during pregnancy and shown that tricyclics and Prozac are reasonably safe options for both mother and fetus.

The Study

It began in 1985, when 129 pregnant women who were taking antidepressants have been counseled by the medical staff where the study took place. 40 of the women had taken tricyclic antidepressants during the first trimester, 36 took antidepressants throughout the whole pregnancy, two took them during the first and second trimesters and two during the first and third only. There were 55 women who had taken fluoxetine, 37 of whom took the drug during the first trimester, and 18 throughout the pregnancy. The offspring of these women were compared to 84 control babies (born to women who had not taken any antidepressants).

They found that the rate of major malformations was similar among all groups with three occurring in the children who had been exposed to tricyclics in utero, two in those exposed to fluoxetine and two in the controls and psychological and behavior tests done on the children had similar results among the three groups. The children, who were between 1.5 and 6 years of age had similar results on I.Q. tests, language skills and behavioral development.

About Prozac

Fluoxetine first entered the Belgian market in 1986 and was approved for use by the FDA in the United States in December 1987.  Although it was the fourth SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) to be marketed, after zimelidine, indalpine and fluvoxamine, the first two were withdrawn as a result of their the side effects and intensive marketing by pharmaceutical company, Eli Lilly made fluoxetine known as a scientific breakthrough and the first SSRI.  After Eli Lilly's patent expired in 2001, multiple generic versions became available and today, despite newer medications that are now available, fluoxetine is still highly popular and is the third most prescribed antidepressant in the U.S.

Fluoxetine is an antidepressant of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class.  Serotonin, one of the chemical messengers which controls moods, is usually quickly reabsorbed after its release at nerve synapses.  Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors such as fluoxetine slow this process down, and boost levels of serotonin available in the brain’s receptors, helping to relieve major depression and other illnesses.

Before taking any antidepressant, it is important to consult your doctor about which one is right for you.