


But four large cohort studies that followed women through pregnancy and followed the children until they were 9 years old don't show higher risk. "Two recent published studies show a slight risk for heart defects with Paxil, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, or SSRI. Confusion Over Paxilīlack-box warnings on prescription labels indicate the highest level of risk determined by the FDA.īut the recent black-box labeling of the antidepressant Paxil causes confusion for pregnant women, says Martinez. "It's interesting to me that by comparison, Accutane's risk is much higher than thalidomide's - which carries a 20% risk - and its harm to the child is far worse," she says. Furthermore, of the 65% of babies born without structural malformations, 50% are profoundly intellectually disabled. Martinez tells WebMD that if a woman takes the drug during pregnancy, there is a 30% to 35% risk for major birth defects, including complete absence of the thymus gland serious, often lethal, heart defects absence of the inner and outer ears and severe, possibly lethal, hydrocephalus - a buildup of excess fluid in the brain. Someone gets an outbreak of pimples and wants Accutane," she says. "It's an amazing drug approved for severe nodular or cystic acne, but it's estimated that in the U.S., 90% of prescriptions are off label. Yet in terms of risk and impact, it pales in comparison to isotretinoin, best-known by the brand name Accutane, according to Lynn Martinez, Utah State Health Department coordinator of the Pregnancy Riskline in Salt Lake City. The thalidomide scare of the 1960s is legendary.
