SSRIs during pregnancy may cause neonatal withdrawal syndrome

Article

The risks of neonatal convulsions and neonatal withdrawal syndrome seem to increase when a pregnant women uses selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), with paroxetine being the worst offender, according to cases reported by 72 countries to the World Health Organization's Collaborating Centre for International Drug Monitoring in Uppsala, Sweden.

The risks of neonatal convulsions and neonatal withdrawal syndrome seem to increase when a pregnant women uses selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), with paroxetine being the worst offender, according to cases reported by 72 countries to the World Health Organization's Collaborating Centre for International Drug Monitoring in Uppsala, Sweden.

Of 93 suspected cases of SSRI-induced neonatal withdrawal syndrome (including 13 cases of seizures) reported by November 2003, 64 were associated with paroxetine, 14 with fluoxetine, nine with sertraline, and seven with citalopram.

As a result, the investigators recommend that paroxetine not be used during pregnancy or, if it must be used, that it be given at the lowest effective dose. They also recommend that the use of other SSRIs during pregnancy be carefully monitored, and that physicians report any new cases of neonatal withdrawal syndrome promptly to appropriate authorities.

Recent Videos
Addressing racial and ethnic disparities in brachial plexus birth Injury | Image Credit: shrinerschildrens.org
The importance of nipocalimab’s FTD against FNAIT | Image Credit:  linkedin.com
The importance of maternal vaccination | Image Credit: nfid.org.
Sean Esplin, MD
Jonathan Miller, MD
Related Content
© 2024 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.