Antidepressants While Pregnant
The full effects of second-generation antidepressants such as Prozac and Zoloft on pregnant women and their children are unknown. Specialists say different risks are involved at the various stages of pregnancy, and few thorough studies have been done on how hormonal changes affect the way drugs are metabolized. Some studies maintain that the risks are negligible, while others indicate withdrawal symptoms in newborns and increased chances of low birth weight and preterm labor.
The hormonal changes of pregnancy leave depression-prone women vulnerable. To some medical experts, the risks of taking a depressed woman off medication during pregnancy outweigh potential side effects to her fetus. Other doctors urge caution, claiming that any drug use during pregnancy is potentially harmful and that little is known about the long-term effects of antidepressants on child development. Others advocate holistic alternatives, ranging from light therapy to diet supplements. However, experts agree that women should talk to their doctors before embarking on any therapies, holistic or otherwise.
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