| WHY YOU SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT | | | | depression, panic attacks and phobias. It was also the |
| YOUR NEWBORN IF YOU USE PAXIL | | | | first drug to be heavily prescribed to patients who |
| Expectant mothers once took prescription medication, | | | | suffer from shyness. Patients who have used Paxil for |
| drank alcohol (moderately) and smoked cigarettes, as | | | | years sometimes find it hard to survive in the |
| well as illegal drugs...all while they were pregnant. None | | | | everyday world without it. This includes women who |
| of these activities were seriously frowned upon | | | | are pregnant or who are thinking of getting pregnant. |
| (except for the illegal drugs of course) until years and | | | | PAXIL LINKED TO PPHN |
| years of research had been gathered. Then these | | | | However, studies from other medical institutions and |
| seemingly harmless activities were linked to any | | | | publications have confirmed the FDA report that Paxil |
| number of birth defects. Well now it's happened again. | | | | could be a leading contributor to Persistent Pulmonary |
| A once harmless drug, after years and years of | | | | Hypertension of the Newborn. PPHN's symptoms |
| research, has been transformed into a leading link | | | | include, but are not limited to:o shortness of breath or |
| possibly contributing to Persistent Pulmonary | | | | other kung defectso peripheral edema (swelling of the |
| Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN). And this | | | | limbs, especially around the ankles and feet)o heart |
| decade's prescription drug of choice is...Paxil. | | | | defects |
| In a recent study released from the Federal Drug | | | | WHAT'S BEING DONE |
| Administration (FDA), a fetus whose mother uses the | | | | The FDA has asked the makers of Paxil to switch the |
| drug during the first trimester is six times more likely to | | | | warning on the label from a "C" to a "D" (meaning the |
| develop PPHN than the general population (those not | | | | risk to the fetus has been witnessed in clinical trials). |
| taking Paxil). But for women who have taken the drug | | | | The makers of Paxil are still performing their own |
| for a considerable amount of time may be causing the | | | | studies in an effort to show the benefits Paxil provides |
| baby more harm by stopping the use of the drug, than | | | | a patient outweighs the potential danger to the fetus. |
| good. Why? To answer that question you need a | | | | So, as you can see, being able to function in the world |
| better understanding of what Paxil is in the first place. | | | | (the positive uses of Paxil), and the risk to an unborn |
| PAXIL AND WHY IT'S SO POPULAR | | | | child are diametrically opposed forces in this issue. |
| Paxil (medical name: paroxetine) is the most common | | | | Weighing the positives against the negatives is one of |
| and heavily prescribed antidepressant on the market. | | | | the reasons the FDA has issued a warning about the |
| Since 1992, when Paxil first hit the market, doctors and | | | | potential side effects of Paxil. Now it's up to the |
| patients have turned it into one of the most successful | | | | consumer to decide if the risk is something they are |
| prescriptions antidepressants in history. Doctors | | | | willing to take. |
| regularly prescribe it to patients suffering from | | | | |