News for June, 2009

Pregnant women beware: Some medications can be lethal to fetus

In 2005, informed health care professionals that it was updating the Pregnancy subsection of the PRECAUTIONS section of the labels for its popular 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.

Read the rest of this entry »

Depressed, black women at higher risk of delivering prematurely

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.

Read the rest of this entry »

Women with diabetes more likely to suffer postpartum depression

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.

Read the rest of this entry »

Psychiatrist reprimanded for taking money from drug maker

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.

Read the rest of this entry »

Paxil, Seroxat may interfere with man’s ability to conceive

Men who take the 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.

Read the rest of this entry »