Zoloft Associated With Many Birth Defects
The increase in the number of pregnant women taking medications, including antidepressants as shown in a study does not bode well with Zoloft linked to the increased risk of birth defects among infants whose mothers were taking the medication during their pregnancy. The number of women taking medication in their first trimester 30 years ago has increased to more than 60 percent now said researchers from the Boston University School of Public Health.
The birth defects could result to permanent injury or even death to the infants as they could either be a minor or life-threatening problem. For the past 10 years, proof associating Zoloft, manufactured by Pfizer, and other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) to birth defects have increased.
Recommended for the treatment of depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic attacks, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), social anxiety disorder and premenstrual dysphoric disorder, Zoloft or Sertraline is one of the most prescribed drug in the world. It helps maintain mental balance by increasing the amount of natural substance in the brain called serotonin.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an alert in the prescription of the drug after several studies suggested that infants born to mothers who took Zoloft or other SSRIs after the 20th week of their pregnancy were six times more likely to have persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN) as compared to infants whose mothers did not take antidepressants during their pregnancy. PPHN is a result of increased pressure in the blood vessels in the infant’s lungs leading to lack of oxygen in the bloodstream.
In addition to neonatal PPHN, Zoloft is also linked to several other birth defects such as septal heart defects wherein the baby has a hole in the heart and omphalocele, a condition wherein some parts of the baby’s intestines are found outside the abdominal wall. The list of birth defects is increasing and now includes cranial skull defects, spina bifida, anal atresia and limb reduction defects. Prolonged hospitalization, respiratory support, and tube feeding are what an infant would suffer through with these birth defects.
Respiratory distress, cyanosis, apnea, seizures, temperature instability, feeding difficulty, vomiting, hypoglycemia, hypotonia, hypertonia, hyperreflexia, tremor, jitteriness, irritability, and constant crying are problems that could be encountered during the infant’s delivery. According to the Zoloft drug inserts, these defects are probably due to either a direct toxic effect of the medication or a drug withdrawal syndrome.
The lack of adequate, well-controlled studies in pregnant women prompted FDA to classify Zoloft as a Pregnancy category C drug. FDA recommended weighing the potential risks against the benefits of using SSRIs during pregnancy and for doctors and patients to discuss their options thoroughly.