Study Links Zoloft, Paxil, Prozac To Breast Feeding Problems

A new study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM) reports that women who take SSRI drugs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) during pregnancy have a more difficult time breast feeding. The study's results are the latest in a long string of medical issues related to women who take anti-depressants during pregnancy including premature delivery and birth defects.

JCEM study shows increase in lactation time for moms taking SSRIs

The JCEM study is not good news for leading antidepressant manufactures such as Pfizer (who manufactures Zoloft), GlaxoSmithKline (who manufactures Paxil), Eli Lilly (who manufactures Prozac) and others. According to the study, expectant mothers who took SSRIs during pregnancy had an average lactation onset time of 85.8 hours versus 69.1 hours for moms not taking SSRIs.

The study, thought to be the first of its kind, states that SSRIs may delay a mother's full milk secretion and onset of lactation due the drugs' impact on mood, emotion, sleep and serotonin regulation in the breasts. While scientists say that more research is necessary, the news comes on the heels of other reported injuries to pregnant women taking SSRIs.

SSRI use linked to premature delivery & birth defects

SSRI use by pregnant women has been linked to a variety of injuries, most notably premature delivery and birth defects:

• Premature birth. A study published in the September/ October 2009 issue of Women's Health Issues, reported that pregnant women who took SSRI drugs such as Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Celexa and Lexapro were three times as likely to give birth prematurely.
• Birth defects. Numerous studies have linked SSRIs to birth defects including cardiac type defects, ventricular septal defects and atrial septal defects – defects that typically occur when the use is early in the first trimester when the baby's heart is still forming in the womb. Hundreds of lawsuits have been filed against anti-depressant manufacturers alleging that they knew, or should have known, about how their products affected pregnancies. The first paxil birth defect trial resulted in a $2.5 million verdict against GlaxoSmithKline – paving the way for others whose children were born with similar defects.

If you've been injured due to any anti-depressant such as Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft, Sertraline, Cymbalta, Lexapro, Cipralex, Effexor, Luvox, Celexa, Pristiq or others, contact an experienced products liability lawyer in your state ) to discuss your situation in confidence and without charge. You may be entitled to damages for both you and your child.