Archive for September 2011

Common Paxil Heart Birth Defects

Posted on Friday, September 30, 2011 by Paxil Birth Defects


A black box warning about pregnancy has been given to Paxil since 2005, this warning states that pregnant women have to consult with their doctor before starting Paxil as it can lead to serious Birth Defects. There are also several studies that have shown that Paxil can potentially cause miscarriages.

However, Paxil has also been known to cause birth defects, the more common of which deal with the heart of the newborn. A study conducted in 2006 and published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that PPHN was six times as likely to occur in infants born to mothers who used Paxil or another SSRI medication during the final twenty weeks of pregnancy.  The main reason for this is that the high blood pressure and poor oxygen flow through the infant’s body is the result of incomplete development of the respiratory system, caused by a malfunction in one of the blood vessels that functions during fetal growth.

 Below is a list of the most common heart birth defects that can potentially be caused by Paxil:

•   Persistent pulmonary hypertension, or PPHN, is a lung condition that occurs in newborns and has been linked to maternal use of the antidepressant Paxil.  Newborns that are diagnosed with PPHN are usually unable to breathe properly because of constricted blood vessels in the lungs and consequently cannot get enough oxygen to vital organs such as the brain and kidneys.  PPHN often requires intensive medical treatment and sometimes surgery.

•    Atrial Septal Defect (AVD) and Ventrical Septal Defect (VSD) can be described as , a hole between the two upper chambers of the heart (atrial) or the two lower chambers of the heart (ventrical).Often AVD or VSD will heal themselves; in more severe instances the infant will undergo surgery. 

•    Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome this is when a newborn is born with an underdevelopment of one of the components of the left side of the heart: the left ventricle, aortic valve, or the left side of the mitral valve. 

 Studies have shown that Paxil has the ability to have a serious side effect on women who are taking the drug for their signs and symptoms of depression while pregnant; these women should be wary of potential Paxil Birth Defects to their babies.

Reference:
http://www.adrugrecall.com/paxil/birth-defect.html

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Paxil Birth Defects May Include PPHN

Posted on Friday, September 2, 2011 by Paxil Birth Defects

Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) can be defined as the failure of the normal circulatory transition that occurs after birth. The main characteristics of PPHN is hypoxemia and right-to-left extrapulmonary shunting of blood. This plus the increased cravings for alcohol are some of the possible side effects of Paxil.

Now what does this all mean? PPHN occurs when a newborn's circulation system does not adapt to breathing outside the womb. While a fetus is in the womb, it gets its oxygen from its mother's placenta through the umbilical cords, so the lungs need little blood supply. There is high blood pressure in the lungs, so blood in the pulmonary artery is sent away from the lungs to the other organs through a fetal blood vessel, called the ductus arteriosus.

After a child is born and takes its first breaths, the blood pressure in their lungs falls and there is an increased blood flow to the lungs, where oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged. Soon after the blood is then returned to the heart and pumped back out to the body. The ductus arteriosus constricts and permanently closes in the first day of life.However, in babies with PPHN, the pressure in the lungs remains high and the ductus arterious remains open, allowing blood to be directed away from the lungs.

The first step in PPHN treatment is to maximize the amount of oxygen delivered to the baby's lungs (and, in turn, to the blood), so 100% oxygen will be given through a tube inserted directly into the baby's trachea (windpipe). The oxygen is administered by a mechanical ventilator, which does the work of breathing for the baby. The PPHN treatment would be given in conjunction with other treatments for the illnesses that may have contributed to the initial development of PPHN (such as low blood sugar, pneumonia, or other infections).

PPHN is a life-threatening heart condition for newborns. Studies have shown that PPHN is also a possible Paxil birth defect. If you would like to start using Paxil for your signs and symptoms of depression, consult with your doctor first.

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