Pregnancy Facts: Taking Antidepressants During Pregnancy Can Lead To Dyslexia And Other Language Disorders

Recent studies reveal that pregnant women who took SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) are prone to having children can possibly suffer from speech difficulties. SSRIs may be one of the most prescribed antidepressants during pregnancy but it was mentioned that the offspring could possibly suffer from developing dyslexia and other language disorders.

The JAMA Network released a study where it was mentioned that there is a probable risk at stake when pregnant women would take SSRIs. The study that was published in JAMA revealed that women are more prone by 37 percent of having children that are at risk of language disorders compared to mothers that didn't take the medication.

The study, which has participated by 845, 345 single births, involved three groups of mothers. The first group involved a group of mothers who consumed the antidepressants one or more during their pregnancy. The second group, however, are mothers who were diagnosed with depression but didn't take any medication. The third and last group of mothers are the ones that didn't suffer depression and never took the medication.

CNN then revealed the statistics stating that children born from mothers who did not consume the medication are at risk for about 1 percent, when it comes to developing language disorders. The lead author of the study, Dr. Alan Brown then revealed that mothers who took SSRI, however, are more prone to developing children with language disorders by 1.37 percent.

"When you have relative risks that are 1.37, they're considered to be low," Brown said. "But because so many people are exposed -- 6 percent to 10 percent of mothers are exposed (to antidepressants) throughout the world -- it's increasing the public health burden."

It was then revealed that antidepressants including Prozac, Celexa, Paxil, Zoloft and Lexapro are said to cross the placenta. These drugs could then reach the infant as it enters the blood stream of the developing child. Doctors then reveal that language disorders including dyslexia are minor side effects. Mothers who went through depression and consume SSIR medications can possibly give birth to a child that can possibly be diagnosed with autism.

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