Antidepressant Risks

There are many types of antidepressants available for treating depression. Some of the most common ones are the SSRI-antidepressants such as Paxil, Prozac, Luvox, Celexa, and Lexapro.

The individuals that use these SSRI’s do so to successfully treat their depression symptoms, so that they can continue having a good quality of life and enjoy normal lives. Doctors will typically prescribe antidepressants according to patients’ individual needs and their level of severity of depression.

However, there are some risks associated with this. Even when used properly and as directed, there can still be some issues that arise. For example, some studies have shown that mothers who took SSRI-antidepressants such as Celexa, Prozac, and others during the first trimester had an increased risk of delivering a baby that has heart birth defects.

Heart birth defects can also occur naturally of course, but the risk for children born with heart defects becomes much greater when the mother used antidepressants during her first trimester. According to most of the studies done by researchers, these cardiac defects are commonly ventricular or atrial septal defects. These particular defects involve a lack of full development in the wall that is located between the infant’s left and right sides of the heart.

If you’ve been prescribed and taken any kind of antidepressants during the first trimester, including SSRI’s, and your child has suffered a birth defect, contact Caputo and Mariotti today to find out more about your options.