Antidepressants taken by 400,000 pregnant women in the US each year could damage a baby’s brain in the womb and increase the risk of mental health problems in the future, research suggests
- Prozac, also known as fluoxetine, increases levels of mood-boosting serotonin
- But the drug can be passed to the baby in the womb or in the breast milk of new mothers
Taking antidepressants during pregnancy or while breastfeeding can damage a baby’s brain and increase the risk of mental health problems in the future, a study has found.
Prozac, also known as fluoxetine, increases levels of mood-boosting serotonin in the brain, but scientists found that it can affect a child’s developing prefrontal cortex.
They also found that the drug can pass into the breast milk of new mothers who take it and is eventually fed to newborns.
Research shows that between 300,000 and 400,000 children in the US are exposed to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) during pregnancy each year.
Professor Won Chan Oh, from the University of Colorado, said: ‘We are the first to provide experimental evidence of the direct impact of serotonin on the developing prefrontal cortex when fluoxetine is taken during pregnancy.
Research shows that taking antidepressants during pregnancy or while breastfeeding can damage a baby’s brain (stock image)
‘Although serotonin is known to play a role in brain development, the mechanisms responsible for this influence, particularly in the prefrontal cortex, are unclear.
‘Understanding this has the potential to aid in early intervention and the development of new therapies.’
The researchers said doctors should consider non-pharmaceutical treatments for pregnant women and women suffering from postpartum depression.
Serotonin is involved in overall brain function, but also affects how connections between neurons change and adapt, contributing to the brain’s ability to learn and adapt.
The prefrontal cortex is the most developed region of the brain and plays a central role in several high-level functions, including planning, decision-making, problem solving and personality expression.
The new study, published in Nature Communications, looked at the impact of a deficiency and excess of serotonin on brain development in mice.
The researchers now plan to investigate the impact of Prozac on the developing teenage brain.
Prozac is one of the most prescribed antidepressants in the world. It is available on the NHS and is commonly used because it has fewer side effects than other medicines.
Antidepressants are on the rise in Britain; in 2022/2023, 86 million were prescribed to an estimated 8.6 million patients – 200,000 more than the previous year.
Earlier this week, a separate study found that exercise and yoga can be as effective as pills for relieving depression.