Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C.

Women who are pregnant or considering pregnancy should closely consider their treatment options for depression in light of the limited reproductive safety information available, says a new report published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG). The report , featured in a recent post on Brain Blogger, evaluates and summarizes the risks associated with depression and antidepressant use during pregnancy, and offers guidelines to help patients make decisions about their treatment.

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Manie’s parents want answers. Their beautiful son was born with transposition of the greater arteries and endured surgeries children should never have to experience. His parents blame GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), makers of the antidepressant Paxil.

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In 2005, GlaxoSmithKline informed health care professionals that it was updating the Pregnancy subsection of the PRECAUTIONS section of the labels for its popular antidepressant medication Paxil to indicate the risk of possible side effects based on a study conducted by the drug maker. The study revealed a greater risk of birth defects in infants born to woman taking antidepressants during the first trimester. An even greater risk was found associated with the use of Paxil over other antidepressants in the study.

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Women who experience symptoms of depression prior to becoming pregnant have an increased risk of preterm birth, but black women who are depressed are at greater risk of delivering a preterm baby than white women, according to a report in the Journal of Women’s Health.

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Pregnant women and new mothers who have diabetes are nearly twice as likely to suffer from symptoms of postpartum depression compared to pregnant women and new mothers who do not have diabetes, according to a Harvard Medical School and University of Minnesota School of Public Health study.

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Emory University has reprimanded one of its leading psychiatrists for speaking on behalf of a drug company while conducting research that touched on the use of that company’s drug in pregnant women.

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Men who take the antidepressant paroxetine (brand names Paxil or Seroxat) have an increased risk of abnormal sperm DNA that may make it more difficult for them to impregnate a woman, according to Health News Digest.

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The B vitamin folic acid has long been touted for its ability to reduce the occurrence of neural tube birth defects such as spina bifida and anencephaly when taken by the mother before and during pregnancy. Now it is being credited for possibly reducing babies’ risk for heart defects, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

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Depression initiative BeyondBlue is working in conjunction with the Australian government to push routine testing for expectant mothers to gauge their risk for suffering from postpartum depression, according to TheAge.com.au.

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News of frustrating and sometimes serious side effects to antidepressants can be enough to motivate one to wean oneself off the medication. New reports show SSRIs have been linked to suicidal thoughts, a Parkinsons-like condition known as Tardive Dyskinesia, and serious birth defects in infants born to women who took SSRIs during pregnancy. But coming off antidepressants is not always easy and if done improperly can cause uncomfortable withdrawal effects, also known as SSRI discontinuation syndrome.

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