Antidepressant Paxil Linked to Heart-Related Birth Defects
Women who take the popular antidepressant Paxil during pregnancy are more likely to have babies with life-threatening heart malformations compared to women who take other antidepressant medications.
In 2005, a study released by Paxil’s maker – GlaxoSmithKline – found that 1.5 percent of babies born to women taking the drug had heart malformations called atrial and ventricular septal defects. The typical rate for these types of birth defects is around one percent, so Paxil increased the risks by one half percent, the study found.
In many cases, babies born with the heart defects must be rushed into cardiac surgery in an effort to correct the problems and restore normal functioning of the heart.
Paxil Taken by Millions Worldwide
Paxil (known generically as paroxetine) was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1992 and since then has been prescribed to millions of people for treatment of depression, anxiety, and some personality disorders. The drug is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), the most prescribed class of antidepressants in the world that also includes Prozac, Celexa, Lexapro, and Zoloft.
Paxil and similar SSRI drugs work by restoring the balance of serotonin in the brain, which can help improve certain mood problems. However, the drugs have been associated with birth defects and other serious health problems in users.
FDA Warns of Paxil Heart Defects
Concerns about heart-related birth defects in babies born to Paxil users prompted the FDA in 2005 to require GlaxoSmithKline to revise the drug’s labeling to warn of the risks. Also in 2005, the FDA released a warning to women about the dangers of taking Paxil during pregnancy and the increased risks of birth defects.
Other Paxil Side Effects Noted
In addition to increased risks of heart-related birth defects in babies, the use of Paxil and other SSRI drugs also has been associated with the following types of side effects:
• Suicide
• Aggressive behavior
• Erectile dysfunction
• Premature ejaculation
• Decreased sex drive
• Bone fractures
• Vivid or strange dreams
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