SSRI's During Pregnancy Appear to Increase Risks of Heart Defects

Jamie Sheller

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According to a recent study, the risk of septal heart defects is increased for children born to women taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI's) during pregnancy. These risks are increased five-fold when the mother uses more than one of these drugs. The study was published online in the British Medical Journal. SSRI's are used to treat depression, and include Prozac, Paxil, Celexa and Zoloft. The researchers concluded that there was a class effect of the SSRI's on heart defects. However, the researchers could not exclude the possibility that the increased heart defects were caused by the depression itself. Despite the study results, researchers do not find that the results warrant a recommendation that pregnant wmen avoid SSRI's.