Antidepressants used during pregnancy could increase chances of autism
New research suggests women considering pregnancy who are taking one popular class of anti-depressants (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs) should seek out the advice of a physician, because use of SSRIs during pregnancy can significantly increase a child’s risk for autism. Popular SSRIs include Prozac, Zoloft and Lexapro (thank you big pharma).
The recently published study found that the autism risk for newborns increased by 87 percent among women who took SSRIs during pregnancy. The study found the medication had the highest chance of causing harm in the second and third trimester of pregnancy, with a lesser risk if taken in the first trimester.
It seems that the use of SSRIs during pregnancy may alter nerotransmitter levels in utero because of how the drug works. SSRI’s block the serotonin transporter, which can then cause a buildup of serotonin in the space between cells. High levels of serotonin can be found in the blood platelets of people with autism as they also lack the ability to synthesize serotonin on their own. And this SSRI compound is often found in the amniotic fluid of pregnant women taking the drug. So, while the exact reason for the association between SSRIs and autism risk isn’t known, it appears the SSRI’s play a part.
“Given projections that depression will be the second leading cause of death by 2020, [antidepressants] are likely to remain widely used, including during pregnancy,” the researchers write in their study. “Therefore, a better understanding of the long-term neurodevelopmental effects of [antidepressants] on children when used during gestation is a public health priority.”
While this new research is cause for some concern, it is important for women who take SSRIs to have an informed conversation with their doctor, as stopping these drugs could be dangerous to a mother’s mental health; for many women, these medications are critical, and discontinuing them poses a risk for depression and anxiety to return.
Study: http://archpedi.jamanetwork.com
Source: Newsweek
