Prozac and Pregnancy

From Pharmacy Drug Guide

The FDA has rated Prozac as Pregnancy Category C. Sufficient studies have not been performed to determine if Prozac is safe to use during pregnancy. Some studies have shown harm to newborns when pregnant women took Prozac through the third trimester of pregnancy.^[1]

Prozac (fluoxetine) was first the antidepressant selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) when it was approved by the FDA in 1986.^[2] Prozac is still prescribed for major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic attacks, and bulimia nervosa. It's also used to help with the symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder, such as breast tenderness, irritability, mood swings, and bloating. Other uses for Prozac include alcoholism, attention-deficit disorder (ADD), borderline personality disorder (BPD), post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Tourette's syndrome, obesity, some sleep disorders, and some phobias. Prozac works by increasing the amount of available serotonin, a neurotransmitter, in the brain.^[3]

Contents 1 Prozac's Effects on Pregnancy 2 Prozac and Pregnancy Category C 3 Prozac and Breastfeeding 4 Drug Side Effects 5 References

Prozac's Effects on Pregnancy

A study of SSRIs found that infants of late-pregnancy antidepressant users were more likely to be born with a condition called persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN). Infants with PPHN have abnormal blood flow through the lungs and heart, and as a result their bodies are not fully oxygenated. PPHN can be fatal to the baby. As a result, some doctors consider tapering their patients' use of Prozac during the third trimester of pregnancy.^[1]

Though there are risks associated with Prozac and pregnancy, in some cases the benefits may be strong enough to warrant continued use. This is because severely depressed women may be less likely to get proper prenatal care or take the steps necessary to deliver a healthy baby. Depressed mothers are more likely to give birth prematurely, and their babies are more likely to have developmental issues like reduced intelligence, verbal skills and social skills.^[5]

Prozac and Pregnancy Category C

Prozac is a Pregnancy Category C medication, which means that sufficient human research has not been performed to determine Prozac's safety for use during pregnancy. Some animal studies suggest potential harm to the fetus. Some infants of mothers who used Prozac or other SSRIs during the third trimester developed complications requiring prolonged hospitalization, respiratory support, and tube feeding. These complications were sometimes the result of antidepressants in the bloodstream and sometimes the result of withdrawal symptoms.^[1]

Prozac and Breastfeeding

Studies have shown that Prozac is found in the milk of breastfeeding mothers. Some infants have shown negative effects which may be related to the Prozac in the milk they received. While concentrations of Prozac are generally low in human milk, Prozac manufacturer Eli Lilly, recommends that Prozac not be used while nursing.^{[6] [5] [1]}

Drug Side Effects

Also See: Prozac Side Effects, Effexor and Pregnancy, Paxil and Pregnancy, Trazodone and Pregnancy, Prescription Drugs, Eli Lilly Patient Assistance Programs, Drug Coupons, Lexapro

References

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4} http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2011/018936s091lbl.pdf
2. ↑ http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/211475/Prozac
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000885/
4. ↑ http://pi.lilly.com/us/Prozac-Medguide.pdf
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=About_Medications&Template=/TaggedPage/TaggedPageDisplay.cfm&TPLID=51&ContentID=66294
6. ↑ http://pi.lilly.com/us/prozac.pdf