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| Zyban, just one of many SSRi type medications associated with birth defects |
New Zealand's drug watchdog, Medsafe, who are the equivalent of the FDA and MHRA, have just issued warnings to healthcare professionals across New Zealand regarding the use of antidepressant type medications during pregnancy.
The warnings come on the back of a recent epidemiological study that shows a possible increased risk of congenital cardiovascular malformations after exposure to bupropion (Zyban) in the first trimester of pregnancy.
Here's where it may get confusing for healthcare professionals and patients.
Zyban is used as a smoking cessation medication that apparently helps people quit smoking.
Zyban is also known as Wellbutrin, an antidepressant.
Medsafe is reporting that the datasheet is currently being updated with information regarding the use during pregnancy.
Meantime, Medsafe and the Medicines Adverse Reactions Committee (MARC) have just completed a review of the risk of QT prolongation and/or Torsades de pointes (TdP) associated with antidepressants used in New Zealand.
The findings?
QT prolongation/TdP is a risk of treatment with most of the antidepressants, including tricyclic antidepressants, approved for use in New Zealand.
Minutes of the MARC meeting can be viewed here.
I suppose the next question should be if any of these drugs should be classed as teratogenic, the definition of which is, "of or relating to substances or agents that can interfere with normal embryonic development."
If, as Medsafe and MARC suggest, these medications can cause the above abnomalities in newborn babies then surely a warning label citing their teratogenicity dangers should be put in place. At the very least it would give expectant mothers fully informed consent.
There's a few chapters in my book that highlights the spat I had with the British drug regulator who still refuse to admit that Glaxo's paroxetine [Paxil/Seroxat/Aropax] is a teratogen.
There's a few chapters in my book that highlights the spat I had with the British drug regulator who still refuse to admit that Glaxo's paroxetine [Paxil/Seroxat/Aropax] is a teratogen.
In 1981, I became pregnant on Lithium and my psychiatrist told me that this drug could cause and inoperable heart defect in the baby and shorten it's life. My older brother was in medical school at the time and did research into the effect of this drug on pregnancy and he agreed with my psychiatrist who talked to my OB/GYN and they all agreed it was best not to go forward with the pregnancy. So they knew in 1981 about the side effects of these drugs on pregnancy just like they knew DES would lead to cancer and infertility in the offspring of women who took this synthetic estrogen and the German drug company who marketed Thalidomide knew when they marketed the drug in the US that it would cause the horrible birth defects it did. I wrote a paper on this drugs effect on pregnancy in the 10th grade. They say we all come into life with purpose and I have known mine since I was a young girl growing up in nature and you should never under estimate the power a women has in taking down those who knowingly harm babies with their drugs. Stay tuned. Thank you Bobby for all you do in bringing awareness about these dangerous drugs.
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