Tuesday, February 03, 2004

Maternal SSRI Use During Pregnancy May Disrupt Newborn Neurobehavior
Reuters Health story at Medscape - "Maternal use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) during pregnancy can lead to disrupted neurobehavior of their offspring, according to the results of a small prospective study reported in the February issue of Pediatrics. Previous studies have demonstrated the lack of SSRI-induced birth defects, the authors explain, but only a few studies have investigated the potential neurobehavioral effects of these medications on newborns."  
  

Parents urge FDA to warn of antidepressant suicide risk
USA Today story - "Parents and doctors need more explicit warnings that some widely used antidepressants are suspected of sometimes causing suicidal behavior in children and teenagers, scientific advisers told the government. That doesn't mean the drugs shouldn't ever be used in children, nor is there actual proof yet that the suicide risk is real, advisers to the Food and Drug Administration cautioned Monday as the agency opened public hearings on a controversy sparked when Britain last year declared most newer antidepressants unsuitable for use by depressed minors."  
  

Child psychiatrist doubts drug safety
Brattleboro Reformer (Vermont) story - "A prominent Vermont psychiatrist is calling for more funding and research into the effects of antidepressants such as Prozac on children, amidst a growing national debate on the safety and ethical concerns of prescribing such drugs for youth. Dr. David Fassler, a child and adolescent psychiatrist in Burlington and a clinical associate professor at University of Vermont's College of Medicine, testified before the Food and Drug Administration in Bethesda, Md., on Monday. At the hearing, Fassler, a trustee of the American Psychological Association, called for increased research into the use of antidepressants on children, adding that 'the biggest risk for a child with depression is to be left untreated.'"