AD's linked to serious lung disorder in newborns

elisa · 03-10-2006, 09:08 PM

Not sure if this article was already posted.
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/a.../10/c1097.html

Newer antidepressants linked to serious lung disorder in newborns

OTTAWA, March 10 /CNW Telbec/ - Health Canada is advising women who are taking antidepressants known as Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors SSRI) and who are pregnant or intend to become pregnant to discuss the situation with their doctor due to potential risks to the baby. Health Canada stresses that patients should not stop taking SSRI medication without first consulting their doctors, as they could experience serious side effects.

Generally, SSRI treatment should only be continued if the benefits to the individual patient are thought to outweigh the risks to the unborn child, while also considering the benefits and risks of switching to another treatment option or stopping treatment altogether. These precautions and the possibility of adverse health effects in newborns are mentioned in the current Canadian prescribing information and consumer information for SSRIs.

SSRIs and other newer antidepressants prescribed for the treatment of depression include the following drugs: Wellbutrin (bupropion), Celexa citalopram), Cipralex (escitalopram), Prozac (fluoxetine), Luvox (fluvoxamine), Remeron (mirtazapine), Paxil (paroxetine), Zoloft (sertraline) and Effexor (venlafaxine), and Zyban (bupropion) for smoking cessation.

A study published recently in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that use of SSRIs during the second half of pregnancy may be associated with a condition called persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn. Newborns with this rare but life-threatening condition do not receive enough oxygen in the blood and require intensive-care treatment to survive. According to the study, babies born with this condition were six times more
likely than healthy babies to have been exposed to SSRIs. This information is
considered to be preliminary at this time. Numerous reports in Canada and abroad have already indicated that some children exposed to SSRIs and other newer antidepressants during pregnancy may develop serious complications at birth. An increase in the overall risk of major birth defects has also been associated with SSRI use.

The safety of these drugs is vigilantly monitored and Canadians will
continue to be informed if new concerns arise. Health Canada advisories on
other SSRI-related complications in newborns are available on the Health
Canada website
(http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hpfb-dgpsa/tp..._public_e.html, see
August 9, 2004, October 6, 2005 and December 22, 2005).
Managing the adverse reactions of marketed health products depends on the
active participation of both healthcare professionals and consumers in reporting these reactions. The spontaneous reporting of adverse reactions generally underestimates the risks associated with the use of marketed health
products. To report a suspected adverse reaction to SSRIs or other newer
antidepressants, please contact the Canadian Adverse Drug Reaction Monitoring Program (CADRMP) of Health Canada by one of the following methods:

Telephone: 866-234-2345
Facsimile: 866-678-6789

CADRMP
Marketed Health Products Directorate
Health Protection Building, Tunney's Pasture, AL 0701C

Email: cadrmp@hc-sc.gc.ca

Consumers requiring more information about this advisory can contact the
Health Canada public inquiries line at (613) 957-2991, or toll free at
1-866-225-0709.

scotty · 03-10-2006, 09:40 PM

It came out a little while ago, but I think this is the first we're hearing from Canada on it.

rdjanis · 03-11-2006, 12:14 AM

It is all over the radio tonight as well, they actually stated 'paxil could be a harmful medication to babies AND adults!!!!

zappelina · 03-11-2006, 05:43 AM

This was in the newspapers here about a month ago. I just wish they would admit it can happen to adults stopping these drugs too. There is a reason some of us have to gasp for air for years after these meds and belive me, it´s not anxiety, I´ve had blue lips, fingers and toes constantly since I quit and had blood tests proving hypoxia that the doctor "didn´t believe in".

eileen · 03-11-2006, 06:18 AM

Elisa I'm glad you posted it! I just received it yesterday. Yahooooooooo gals, the truth is finally coming out.

Lots more to be done for sure, but this is a start.
Zappelina, my heart aches for you everytime I read one of your posts. Sending you warm hugs and prayers that you will be feeling better soon. If I were you, I would copy off that warning from Health Canada and bring it to the doctors, that dare not to believe you.
eileen

zappelina · 03-12-2006, 01:29 AM

Thanks for the hugs Eileen! I have felt some minor improvements lately and hopefully will see some more soon but it´s indeed painfully slow. Can´t walk properly yet and have to struggle to hold my body up but I have been breathing automatically almost every day for the past two weeks and for me that is a blessing and the improvement I cherish the most. It´s such a relief and makes it a lot easier to endure all the rest.

I feel that the problem is that these articles keep turning up now and then for a few days but they´re soon forgotten and the docs just think that this is so rare that they don´t care about it and therefore they keep prescribing these drugs for everything they think is related to anxiety or depression. And as long as all available information about side effects and withdrawal is spread out here and there in medical records, newpaper articles and on the internet and nobody actually compiles and analyzes it to see all the common features we won´t see any real reseearch and heightened awareness

Healing · 03-12-2006, 02:07 PM

zapp - I'm so glad to hear about your breathing!! Thank goodness. May it last!!!

03-10-2006, 09:08 PM	#1
elisa Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 11,473	AD's linked to serious lung disorder in newborns Not sure if this article was already posted. http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/a.../10/c1097.html Newer antidepressants linked to serious lung disorder in newborns OTTAWA, March 10 /CNW Telbec/ - Health Canada is advising women who are taking antidepressants known as Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors SSRI) and who are pregnant or intend to become pregnant to discuss the situation with their doctor due to potential risks to the baby. Health Canada stresses that patients should not stop taking SSRI medication without first consulting their doctors, as they could experience serious side effects. Generally, SSRI treatment should only be continued if the benefits to the individual patient are thought to outweigh the risks to the unborn child, while also considering the benefits and risks of switching to another treatment option or stopping treatment altogether. These precautions and the possibility of adverse health effects in newborns are mentioned in the current Canadian prescribing information and consumer information for SSRIs. SSRIs and other newer antidepressants prescribed for the treatment of depression include the following drugs: Wellbutrin (bupropion), Celexa citalopram), Cipralex (escitalopram), Prozac (fluoxetine), Luvox (fluvoxamine), Remeron (mirtazapine), Paxil (paroxetine), Zoloft (sertraline) and Effexor (venlafaxine), and Zyban (bupropion) for smoking cessation. A study published recently in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that use of SSRIs during the second half of pregnancy may be associated with a condition called persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn. Newborns with this rare but life-threatening condition do not receive enough oxygen in the blood and require intensive-care treatment to survive. According to the study, babies born with this condition were six times more likely than healthy babies to have been exposed to SSRIs. This information is considered to be preliminary at this time. Numerous reports in Canada and abroad have already indicated that some children exposed to SSRIs and other newer antidepressants during pregnancy may develop serious complications at birth. An increase in the overall risk of major birth defects has also been associated with SSRI use. The safety of these drugs is vigilantly monitored and Canadians will continue to be informed if new concerns arise. Health Canada advisories on other SSRI-related complications in newborns are available on the Health Canada website (http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hpfb-dgpsa/tp..._public_e.html, see August 9, 2004, October 6, 2005 and December 22, 2005). Managing the adverse reactions of marketed health products depends on the active participation of both healthcare professionals and consumers in reporting these reactions. The spontaneous reporting of adverse reactions generally underestimates the risks associated with the use of marketed health products. To report a suspected adverse reaction to SSRIs or other newer antidepressants, please contact the Canadian Adverse Drug Reaction Monitoring Program (CADRMP) of Health Canada by one of the following methods: Telephone: 866-234-2345 Facsimile: 866-678-6789 CADRMP Marketed Health Products Directorate Health Protection Building, Tunney's Pasture, AL 0701C Email: cadrmp@hc-sc.gc.ca Consumers requiring more information about this advisory can contact the Health Canada public inquiries line at (613) 957-2991, or toll free at 1-866-225-0709. __________________ On A/D's since 1995, switching due to side-effects on 30 different brands of TCA's, SSRI's, SNRI's, Antipsychotics, Benzo's & Imovane. 6 ECT's. Tapering from 225 mg Effexor XR May 17, 2004. (Equiv. to 60 mg Paxil) Last taper Effexor XR Jan 17, 2006 down to ZERO. Currently protracted withdrawal. Sept 2006: 25 mg Doxepin. March 13/09: 10 mg Desipramine

03-10-2006, 09:40 PM	#2
scotty Administrator Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: new jersey Posts: 46,985	Re: AD's linked to serious lung disorder in newborns It came out a little while ago, but I think this is the first we're hearing from Canada on it. __________________ AKA Laurie "Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase." MLK

03-11-2006, 12:14 AM	#3
rdjanis "has a lavender scented keyboard" Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Ontario Posts: 22,214	Re: AD's linked to serious lung disorder in newborns It is all over the radio tonight as well, they actually stated 'paxil could be a harmful medication to babies AND adults!!!! __________________ Rita

03-11-2006, 05:43 AM	#4
zappelina Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sweden Posts: 2,387	Re: AD's linked to serious lung disorder in newborns This was in the newspapers here about a month ago. I just wish they would admit it can happen to adults stopping these drugs too. There is a reason some of us have to gasp for air for years after these meds and belive me, it´s not anxiety, I´ve had blue lips, fingers and toes constantly since I quit and had blood tests proving hypoxia that the doctor "didn´t believe in". __________________ AD history: Celexa 20 mg 1997-98. Quit CT, no WD problems. Paxil/Seroxat 20 mg 2001-2003 then switched to 50 mg Zoloft without any WD problems after the switch. Zoloft later increased to 75 mg. 2004 tapered Zoloft too quickly after sudden onset of muscle stiffness and extreme restlessness on full dose. Severe and prolonged WD problem with a long list of symptoms. Considerable mental but very little physical improvement so far. Last Zoloft dose April 18 2004.

03-11-2006, 06:18 AM	#5
eileen Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 10,523	Re: AD's linked to serious lung disorder in newborns Elisa I'm glad you posted it! I just received it yesterday. Yahooooooooo gals, the truth is finally coming out. Lots more to be done for sure, but this is a start. Zappelina, my heart aches for you everytime I read one of your posts. Sending you warm hugs and prayers that you will be feeling better soon. If I were you, I would copy off that warning from Health Canada and bring it to the doctors, that dare not to believe you. eileen __________________ June 13/07-reducing by .05mg. every four weeks to present. October 29/08-Paxil Free 2006-Cut Trazodone from 150mg to 100mg. Sept 07/09- Trazodone 75mg. 4/10 Weaning Benzo. 12/11 Benzo Free! Started this journey of horror with AD's in 1994, Put on Paxil 30 mg in Feb/1995 I will survive!

03-12-2006, 01:29 AM	#6
zappelina Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sweden Posts: 2,387	Re: AD's linked to serious lung disorder in newborns Thanks for the hugs Eileen! I have felt some minor improvements lately and hopefully will see some more soon but it´s indeed painfully slow. Can´t walk properly yet and have to struggle to hold my body up but I have been breathing automatically almost every day for the past two weeks and for me that is a blessing and the improvement I cherish the most. It´s such a relief and makes it a lot easier to endure all the rest. I feel that the problem is that these articles keep turning up now and then for a few days but they´re soon forgotten and the docs just think that this is so rare that they don´t care about it and therefore they keep prescribing these drugs for everything they think is related to anxiety or depression. And as long as all available information about side effects and withdrawal is spread out here and there in medical records, newpaper articles and on the internet and nobody actually compiles and analyzes it to see all the common features we won´t see any real reseearch and heightened awareness __________________ AD history: Celexa 20 mg 1997-98. Quit CT, no WD problems. Paxil/Seroxat 20 mg 2001-2003 then switched to 50 mg Zoloft without any WD problems after the switch. Zoloft later increased to 75 mg. 2004 tapered Zoloft too quickly after sudden onset of muscle stiffness and extreme restlessness on full dose. Severe and prolonged WD problem with a long list of symptoms. Considerable mental but very little physical improvement so far. Last Zoloft dose April 18 2004.

03-12-2006, 02:07 PM	#7
Healing Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 1,019	Re: AD's linked to serious lung disorder in newborns zapp - I'm so glad to hear about your breathing!! Thank goodness. May it last!!!

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