Intra-Uterine Deaths and Umbilical Cord Abnormalities Linked to Antidepressants in MedWatch Reports; Preventing Threatened Miscarriages

I have read about problems with the placenta being associated with Paxil, and I have even known people with this problem whose babies were exposed to Paxil or other antidepressants not from the mother but via the father’s sperm and exposure from semen. I am guessing the exposure from mom taking a drug would probably be more intense but this goes to show how toxic the drugs are. There are reports of drug exposure via semen in the MedWatch database.

I was wondering about umbilical cord abnormalities and antidepressants so I decided to do a google search and couldn’t find much aside from unrelated drug selling websites that used every key word imaginable.

So, I pulled a few reports (not all the reports, just a sampling) from the decrypted MedWatch report database on the topics of intrauterine death and umbilical cord abnormalities (Thank you CCHR!).

Some also have placenta problems although I did not do a search on those specifically. The decrypted MedWatch data seems to be one of the only sources for finding this information on what is really associated with antidepressant use / psych drug use. I think it is really one of the best sites on the internet because you can search for a specific side effect and see how many reports there were. The main psychdrugdangers database even breaks it down for you by age range.  The MOTHERS Act / prenatal / neonatal database section has all the reports you need to see if you are looking for pregnancy and breastfeeding reports since 2004.

I love this site because you are able to see the truth and not have to wonder about any conflicts of interest with the researchers, agendas, or bad motives like you would if you only read the complete b.s. being offered up by websites of moms on drugs, psychs in the pocket of pHARMa, etc.

Because of the seriousness of this issue I feel that every mom should have access to this information so I hope you will share this with your friends, you never know who it may help to save. (See: October 15 Infant and Child Death Awareness and Prevention Day).

On that note, I highly recommend the book Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year by Susan Weed. It talks about herbs and vitamins that can be used to help prevent miscarriage, to stop miscarriages in progress, promote uterine health, and what herbs and foods to avoid to protect your baby during pregnancy.

I have this book on my shelf, and I looked up some information for a friend once… Using some of the recommended vitamins during a time when she was having bleeding and on bed rest during the second trimester, things improved. Another great product she used is called Carry On which is for bleeding and prevention of miscarriage. Every time I see her baby I think about those products and how they possibly saved that baby’s life. We found out about that product from a friend on a home birth listserv.

If you’re not on any mommy listservs or yahoo groups I recommend trying to find a holistic one to get advice from holistic friends like this. The MADNAP listserv, UNITE listserv, and CHAADA listserv are all hosted on Yahoo and would be a good place to start. We have several home birthing moms on there who have experience with alternative health and can refer you to other resources / groups.

Now for the sample reports I pulled: If you have had a similar incident while taking a psychiatric drug or shortly after withdrawing from one, please consider making a MedWatch report by going here:

https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/medwatch-online.htm

http://www.thefetus.net/page.php?id=167 According to this article on velamentous insertion of the umbilical cord, the anomaly is associated with congenital abnormalities and preterm birth. These are problems commonly associated with antidepressants. One study found a nearly five times higher rate of preterm birth for babies exposed to antidepressants. [“Infants exposed to fluoxetine during the third trimester had, compared to those exposed only during the first and second trimester, reduced birth weight and length, an almost 5-fold increased risk of premature delivery, a 2.6-fold increased risk of being admitted to special-care nurseries, and an almost 9-fold increased risk of experiencing respiratory difficulties, cyanosis on feeding, and jitteriness.” Birth outcomes in pregnant women taking fluoxetine. Chambers CD, et al. N Engl J Med, 335(14):1010-5 1996 Oct 3.]

DECRYPTED REPORTS:
http://www.cchrint.org/psychdrugdangers/MothersAct.html

EFFEXOR

M 6026440 4964817 03/01/2006 04/03/2006 Venlafaxine Depression Caesarean Section, Drug Exposure During Pregnancy, Testicular Torsion, Umbilical Cord Abnormality

M 6232679 5232270 07/01/2006 02/07/2007 11/01/2006 Effexor XR CN Anomaly of External Ear Congenital, Intra-Uterine Death, Limb Malformation, Low Set Ears, Skull Malformation, Transmission of Drug Via Semen, Umbilical Cord Abnormality

6040906 4985077 09/07/2005 04/19/2006 Effexor XR Pyramidal Tract Syndrome Brain Malformation, Cerebral Cyst, Drug Exposure During Pregnancy, Exomphalos, Intra-Uterine Death, Talipes

5827164 4692986 06/15/2005 Effexor XR OT Drug Exposure During Pregnancy, Intra-Uterine Death

F 5941024 4845757 11/30/2005 Effexor XR Depression Abortion Spontaneous, Depression, Disease Recurrence, Drug Exposure During Pregnancy, Drug Ineffective, Drug Withdrawal Syndrome, Foetal Growth Retardation, Intra-Uterine Death

PAXIL

F 5892354 4789790 10/06/2005 Paxil CN Drug Use for Unknown Indication Drug Exposure During Pregnancy, Intra-Uterine Death, Placental Disorder, Umbilical Cord Abnormality, Umbilical Cord Vascular Disorder

M 5991062 5464256 11/02/2005 09/21/2007 Paxil CR CN Maternal Condition Affecting Foetus Arrhythmia, Atelectasis, Atrial Septal Defect, Balance Disorder, Blindness, Blood Pressure Increased, Caesarean Section, Cardiac Failure Congestive, Cardiomegaly, Catatonia, Complex Partial Seizures, Convulsion, Coordination Abnormal, Cyanosis, Dehydration, Developmental Delay, Drug Exposure During Pregnancy, Eating Disorder, Embolic Stroke, Encephalomalacia, Facial Palsy, Heart Disease Congenital, Hemiparesis, Infantile Spasms, Loss of Consciousness, Muscular Weakness, Oedema, Oral Intake Reduced, Oxygen Saturation Decreased, Patent Ductus Arteriosus, Pleural Effusion, Post Procedural Complication, Postoperative Thrombosis, Psychomotor Skills Impaired, Pulmonary Oedema, Respiratory Acidosis, Respiratory Distress, Screaming, Sinus Bradycardia, Skin Discolouration, Speech Disorder Developmental, Tachypnoea, Thrombosis, Transposition of the Great Vessels, Umbilical Cord Around Neck, Univentricular Heart, Urinary Tract Infection, Ventricular Hypoplasia, Ventricular Septal Defect, Vesicoureteric Reflux (This one was accidentally copied and pasted, and I just realized doesn’t have umbilcal cord abnormalities, just around the neck, but it was such an awful case I felt I should keep it in.)

F 5654406 4488092 03/23/2004 10/28/2004 Paroxetine MD Depression Cytomegalovirus Infection, Drug Exposure During Pregnancy, Intra-Uterine Death

5819180 4690656 02/24/2005 06/15/2005 02/24/2005 Deroxat CN Drug Exposure During Pregnancy, Intra-Uterine Death

WELLBUTRIN

F 5701388 4536190 09/17/2004 12/23/2004 Bupropion OT Depression Chorioamnionitis, Drug Exposure During Pregnancy, Intra-Uterine Death, Micrognathia, Umbilical Cord Abnormality

26 Years F 6000982 4938300 03/09/2006 Bupropion OT Depression Drug Exposure During Pregnancy, Hypertension, Umbilical Cord Vascular Disorder

M 4011323 4279456 01/27/2004 Wellbutrin MD Depression Abdominal Wall Anomaly, Arteriopathic Disease, Chorioamnionitis, Cleft Palate, Congenital Atrial Septal Defect, Drug Exposure During Pregnancy, Ear Malformation, Intra-Uterine Death, Jaw Fracture, Kyphosis, Liver Disorder, Lymphangiectasia, Macrognathia, Nose Deformity, Pectus Excavatum, Placental Disorder, Spleen Malformation, Thyroid Disorder, Traumatic Delivery

F 6172347 5156305 11/22/2006 Wellbutrin OT Drug Use for Unknown Indication Drug Exposure During Pregnancy, Intra-Uterine Death