Neonatal complications after intrauterine exposure to SSRI antidepressants.
(1) Newborns exposed to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants towards the end of pregnancy sometimes show signs of agitation, altered muscle tone, and breathing and suction problems. Similar symptoms can occur after exposure to tricyclic antidepressants. (2) These neonatal symptoms have been noted with all five SSRI antidepressants available in France, namely citalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine and sertraline. (3) An estimated 20% to 30% of newborns exposed to an SSRI towards the end of pregnancy are affected. (4) The symptoms are variously attributed to withdrawal or to the drug itself. (5) In practice, doctors should be aware of this risk when considering antidepressant treatment for women in the third trimester of pregnancy. There is no consensus on the treatment of affected newborns, but close monitoring is mandatory.
D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015283:Citalopram / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016666:Fluvoxamine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009357:Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome; D017374:Paroxetine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000187:drug effects; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D012306:Risk; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020280:Sertraline / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D015283:Citalopram; D005473:Fluoxetine; D016666:Fluvoxamine; D017374:Paroxetine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D020280:Sertraline