As Published on the Zoloft Birth Defects Website

Risks and benefits of any medications may have varying effects on different individuals. A very good example for this is the sensitivity of women to any kind of medications for the whole duration of pregnancy. Extra care in the approval and labeling of medications is being taken by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) because most pharmaceutical companies present their medications as safe for women with a baby on the way. With the safety of their babies in mind, women are open to try alternative treatments. One of the alternative treatments that is gaining popularity is magnetic therapy for depression.

According to data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA), women are more prone to mood shifts that would make them deviate from their normal daily routines. Several cases of pregnant women developing depression had been observed, happening during or after pregnancy. The depression may be too hard to bear that most women would have decided to take antidepressants at the full length of pregnancy. The associated risks of medications for stabilizing the moods are often centered to the fetus when it is taken during pregnancy. All medications are categorized by the FDA, depending on the risks that the fetus are exposed to.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a type of antidepressant that works on the serotonin levels of the brain, is one most frequent mood stabilizers that helps maintain the well-being of the person using them. SSRIs are often used or prescribed to pregnant women because they were believed to be much safer than earlier medications used for depression.

Believing that all information concerning the effects of SSRIs are not yet fully understood, several researchers have initiated studies about it. Before filling-up the prescription, attending physicians discuss the risks associated with the drug. The risks cancels out the benefits in many instances.

The side effects of medications may be seen immediately after delivery or will become more prominent as the baby grows older. How the drug affects the baby is being evaluated by the FDA. When SSRIs are used during pregnancy, babies are at risk of developing lung and heart problems. Common problems with the heart are holes and malformations. A serious lung problem among newborns is persistent pulmonary hypertension. Women are taking Zoloft are now aware of the risks of Zoloft birth defects.