Pregnant women who take Prozac for depression during the third trimester have an increased risk of birth complications.
A study published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that a significantly higher percentage of women who took Prozac during the last three months of pregnancy delivered premature babies, as compared to women who didn’t take the drug. Similarly, full-term babies born to mothers on Prozac were more likely to be admitted to special-care nurseries. Such complications occurred less frequently for women who took Prozac earlier in their pregnancies.
Study results did confirm earlier reports that the drug does not contribute to spontaneous abortion or major birth defects. However, a higher than normal incidence of several minor birth defects is reported for mothers who used the drug during the early stages of pregnancy.
Dr. David Goldstein, speaking for Eli Lilly and Company, makers of Prozac, stated that Prozac, like any drug, should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed.
SOURCE: The New England Journal of Medicine 1996
Prozac is like any other drug and should only be taken during pregnancy if you have to. That is an easy way of saying, “We don’t except responsibility for the side effects of our drugs.”
I put this article up for your view just to alert you to the possible dangers that you may not be aware of at this time. You are important!
God Bless,
Dr. Benzinger
