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| POSTED 6/22/2006 |
Paxil and Pregnancy |
Taking the antidepressant PaxilŽ early in pregnancy carries a slightly higher risk of heart-related birth defects than other antidepressants, reports the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and GlaxoSmithKline, the manufacturer of the drug. In recent studies, about 2 percent of infants whose mothers used Paxil during their first trimester were born with a defect, compared with about 1 percent whose mothers used other antidepressants.
Despite the minimal risk, doctors advise pregnant women not to quit taking their depression medication cold turkey. They are concerned that depressed mothers may not take care of themselves or their babies. Still, the March of Dimes advises women who are pregnant or are trying to conceive to consider alternatives to Paxil.
Date Posted: June 22, 2006
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