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Zoloft Side Effects on Pregnant or Expectant Women
Pregnancy is considered as one of the most delicate conditions of a woman. She must exercise caution in using certain products as well as doing certain activities because it can affect her growing baby. The goal in pregnancy is to have a safe delivery both for the mother and child with less or no complications if possible. Certain conditions like birth defects cannot be avoided no matter how hard the mother tried to keep the pregnancy as healthy as possible, and the parents will have to face this condition. Most birth defects don’t have a known cause but risk factors are recognized. The environment can be one risk and medications are a part of it. Women taking Zoloft, an antidepressant, should take appropriate precautions because it has been associated with the development of birth defects and serious medical conditions in new-borns.
Information on Zoloft
Zoloft with generic name Sertraline Hydrochloride in an antidepressant medication under the SSRI drug class. This is usually prescribed for depression but It can also be taken for other mental conditions. This medication acts to stabilize the neurotransmitter, serotonin in the brain. The neurotransmitter Serotonin is responsible for the variations in our mood and imbalance can cause symptoms of mania or depression. This is also indicated for Panic Attacks, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Anxiety, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and other mood disorders. Mono Amine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOI) medications, another type of antidepressant, should not be taken with Zoloft or any SSRI because serious drug reactions may take place.
Zoloft Use During Pregnancy
Although relatively safer than most antidepressants, Zoloft use is still linked with birth anomalies. Some women who took the drug especially during the third trimester gave birth to children with heart complications, lung problems and skull defects. The neonates required prolonged hospitalization, respiratory support and feeding through tubes. Physicians are therefore advised to carefully weigh down the risk and benefits of prescribing Zoloft not only to pregnant women but to those of child-bearing age as well. With all the Zoloft birth defects being talked about, the need for a relatively safer antidepressant is on the rise. To abruptly stop the medication is not an option because this can cause a more serious problem. The doctor can taper the drug dose if the woman is already in her third trimester.
About the Author
Pregnant women should take caution on the type of drugs that they take in. For those with depression and are taking Zoloft, they should take caution because the drug has been noted to cause Zoloft birth defects.
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