Pediatric Pulmonary Hypertension

In a recent study, it was determined that the antidepressant drugs taken by pregnant women in their 20th week or later, has caused the incidence of primary pulmonary hypertension in infants on the rise.

These studies have prompted a dialogue between specialists PPH alarming and other experts whose anti-depressant use by pregnant women may increase the chances of babies born with lung problems, including primary pulmonary hypertension.

The drugs in question are well known. They include: Celexa, Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft.

Therefore, babies born with pulmonary hypertension require immediate assistance to breathe. Unfortunately, it is estimated that 10-20 percent of these babies die soon after birth.

In addition, those who are born with primary pulmonary hypertension is likely to develop hearing loss, brain abnormalities, and dysfunction in the development and seek help from a specialist in PPH.

Although experts say the risk of having a child born with primary pulmonary hypertension is very low, women who are taking any of these anti-depressants take a chance with their unborn children. It was also found that women who are still viable to have children, but have problems with depression are more likely to take anti-depressants.

In response to these underlying facts, the FDA concluded that additional safety studies were needed, but at the same time, women taking anti-depressants should not stop because of this report.

But the fact remains that infants do not develop symptoms such as poor diet, seizures, and anxiety. Therefore, we must seek the advice and assistance of a specialist in PPH. One study indicated that 30 percent of newborns exposed to antidepressants in utero developed a sugar imbalance, sleep disturbances and symptoms similar to drug withdrawal.

Therefore, the FDA warned that use of Paxil during the first trimester is associated with an increased risk of birth defects as cardiac malformations. However, it does not stop there. According to Johnson Group who practices law in general pharmaceutical litigation, and matters relating to Paxil in particular, they discuss issues such as Paxil, a drug prescribed in this way: More than 20 million Americans take antidepressants.

Last year, doctors delivered 150 million prescriptions in the United States, according to IMS Health, a company based in Connecticut health care information. As much as 70 per cent of medicines are prescribed by psychiatrists, but not by general practitioners without special training in complex mental disorders. The global market for antidepressants in the United States is more than 12.5 billion dollars annually.

In addition, they claim that the FDA has alerted health care professionasl and patients about new research suggesting that Paxil increases the risk of birth defects, particularly heart defects, when women took the drug during the first three months of pregnancy. The first results of two studies showed that women who took Paxil during the first three months of pregnancy were about twice as likely to have a baby with heart defects than women who received other antidepressants or women in the general population.

Most heart defects reported in these studies were atrial and ventricular septal defects (holes in the walls of the chambers of the heart). In general, the FDA said, these more or less serious faults of those who are minor and may resolve without treatment to those who cause serious problems and may need to be repaired surgically.

This warning was followed with another warning from the FDA in July 2006 who reported that antidepressant use by pregnant women resulted in babies born with a serious condition called persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN). Bo babies.