Antidepressants Increase Birth Defects

A study in the NEJM noted a 6 fold increase in pulmonary hypertension in newborns whose mothers were on Prozac. This follows a September alert from the FDA that use of Paxil during pregnancy may increase the risk of birth defects. These drugs, together with Celexa and Zoloft, belong to a class of antidepressants which act to prolong the effect of the chemical serotonin.