Some studies have found that the use of antidepressants in early pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage, but the authors of the latest work argue that this threat is due to depression itself rather than drugs against it, according to the Internet edition for girls and women from 14 to 35 years old.. net After reviewing the medical records of more than 1,200,000 women, researchers found that pregnant women who took selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in early pregnancy were 27% more likely to have a miscarriage in the first trimester.

But a similar increase in the risk of miscarriage is seen in pregnant women who have stopped taking SSRIs at least 3 months before the planned pregnancy..

What is this, a coincidence? Or does depression itself play a big role

“These results clearly show us that the miscarriage is not related to the use of SSRIs, but to the condition itself, which was treated with antidepressants,” says lead researcher Dr. Jon Andersen, researcher at the Copenhagen University Hospital (Denmark).

However, not all experts agree with Dr. Andersen..

Dr. Adam Urato, an expert in fetal medicine at Tufts Medical Center (Boston, USA), studied the results of the work of his European colleagues. He says the study has significant limitations, including the unreliability of the fact that the women actually continued to take their prescribed medications..

“This type of error can reduce the usefulness of the results, and women at the appointment would rather tell the doctor that they are continuing to take their prescribed drugs than admit that they are afraid to drink them,” says Dr. Urato.

“More importantly, the results obtained must be considered in a broader context.. Some studies have already linked the use of SSRIs during pregnancy with an increased risk of miscarriage, preterm birth, preeclampsia, and other pregnancy complications.. The same applies to developmental disorders, including autism,” the expert noted..

The studies Urato talks about were designed in such a way that they cannot prove a causal relationship between pregnancy complications and antidepressants.. Animal studies have shown that SSRIs during pregnancy can still cause these problems..

“We know that the serotonin system is extremely important for fetal development. And SSRIs destroy this system,” Urato explains..

Serotonin is a chemical messenger that helps regulate mood, appetite, blood vessel tone, and other important functions.. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors that are recognized as first-line drugs for depression include fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), citalopram (Celexa), and paroxetine (Paxil).

Dr. Andersen says that one of the difficulties in studying the effect of SSRIs on the risk of miscarriage is the possible effect of depression itself, which casts doubt on the conclusions of scientists.. He believes that his work solves the problem because it included those women who had previously taken antidepressants, but stopped drinking them before conception..

The results, published in the October issue of the journal Obstetrics \u0026 Gynecology, are based on an analysis of 1.2 million medical records of pregnant women between 1997 and 2010.. Of 23,000 women who took their doctor's prescription SSRIs in the first 35 days of pregnancy, 12.6% miscarried. In the group not taking SSRIs, this percentage was 11%..

When Andersen's team took into account maternal age and income factors, SSRIs were still responsible for 27% of the additional risk of miscarriage.. But the difference was almost the same as in women with depression who stopped their drugs at least 3 months before the planned conception..

Dr. Andersen says there are several possible explanations for this: “Other studies have shown that people with depression are more likely to abuse alcohol and smoke, and generally feel worse about their health..

Pregnant women with depression may be less likely to follow doctor's recommendations for folic acid intake and other valuable advice..

Dr. Christina Chambers, director of the Center for Maternal Health and Child Development at the University of California at San Diego, called the scientists' findings " According to her, for each woman in each case, you need to weigh the risks and benefits of continuing to take SSRIs with your doctor, especially when it comes to severe depression..

medbe. en.