Advisory - Newer antidepressants linked to serious lung disorder in newborns

[Guest guest]

http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/March2006/10/c1097.html

Attention News/Health Editors:

Advisory - Newer antidepressants linked to serious lung disorder in newborns

OTTAWA, March 10 /CNW Telbec/ - Health Canada is advising women who are

taking antidepressants known as Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors

(SSRI) and who are pregnant or intend to become pregnant to discuss the

situation with their doctor due to potential risks to the baby.

Health Canada stresses that patients should not stop taking SSRI

medication without first consulting their doctors, as they could experience

serious side effects.

Generally, SSRI treatment should only be continued if the benefits to

the

individual patient are thought to outweigh the risks to the unborn child,

while also considering the benefits and risks of switching to another

treatment option or stopping treatment altogether. These precautions and the

possibility of adverse health effects in newborns are mentioned in the

current

Canadian prescribing information and consumer information for SSRIs.

SSRIs and other newer antidepressants prescribed for the treatment of

depression include the following drugs: Wellbutrin (bupropion), Celexa

(citalopram), Cipralex (escitalopram), Prozac (fluoxetine), Luvox

(fluvoxamine), Remeron (mirtazapine), Paxil (paroxetine), Zoloft

(sertraline)

and Effexor (venlafaxine), and Zyban (bupropion) for smoking cessation.

A study published recently in the New England Journal of Medicine

suggests that use of SSRIs during the second half of pregnancy may be

associated with a condition called persistent pulmonary hypertension of the

newborn. Newborns with this rare but life-threatening condition do not

receive

enough oxygen in the blood and require intensive-care treatment to survive.

According to the study, babies born with this condition were six times more

likely than healthy babies to have been exposed to SSRIs. This information

is

considered to be preliminary at this time.

Numerous reports in Canada and abroad have already indicated that some

children exposed to SSRIs and other newer antidepressants during pregnancy

may

develop serious complications at birth. An increase in the overall risk of

major birth defects has also been associated with SSRI use.

The safety of these drugs is vigilantly monitored and Canadians will

continue to be informed if new concerns arise. Health Canada advisories on

other SSRI-related complications in newborns are available on the Health

Canada website

(http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hpfb-dgpsa/tpd-dpt/index_advisories_public_e.html,

see

August 9, 2004, October 6, 2005 and December 22, 2005).

Managing the adverse reactions of marketed health products depends on

the

active participation of both healthcare professionals and consumers in

reporting these reactions. The spontaneous reporting of adverse reactions

generally underestimates the risks associated with the use of marketed

health

products.

To report a suspected adverse reaction to SSRIs or other newer

antidepressants, please contact the Canadian Adverse Drug Reaction

Monitoring

Program (CADRMP) of Health Canada by one of the following methods:

Telephone: 866-234-2345

Facsimile: 866-678-6789

CADRMP

Marketed Health Products Directorate

Health Protection Building, Tunney's Pasture, AL 0701C

Email: cadrmp@...

Consumers requiring more information about this advisory can contact the

Health Canada public inquiries line at (613) 957-2991, or toll free at

1-866-225-0709.

[Guest guest]

http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/March2006/10/c1097.html

Attention News/Health Editors:

Advisory - Newer antidepressants linked to serious lung disorder in newborns

OTTAWA, March 10 /CNW Telbec/ - Health Canada is advising women who are

taking antidepressants known as Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors

(SSRI) and who are pregnant or intend to become pregnant to discuss the

situation with their doctor due to potential risks to the baby.

Health Canada stresses that patients should not stop taking SSRI

medication without first consulting their doctors, as they could experience

serious side effects.

Generally, SSRI treatment should only be continued if the benefits to

the

individual patient are thought to outweigh the risks to the unborn child,

while also considering the benefits and risks of switching to another

treatment option or stopping treatment altogether. These precautions and the

possibility of adverse health effects in newborns are mentioned in the

current

Canadian prescribing information and consumer information for SSRIs.

SSRIs and other newer antidepressants prescribed for the treatment of

depression include the following drugs: Wellbutrin (bupropion), Celexa

(citalopram), Cipralex (escitalopram), Prozac (fluoxetine), Luvox

(fluvoxamine), Remeron (mirtazapine), Paxil (paroxetine), Zoloft

(sertraline)

and Effexor (venlafaxine), and Zyban (bupropion) for smoking cessation.

A study published recently in the New England Journal of Medicine

suggests that use of SSRIs during the second half of pregnancy may be

associated with a condition called persistent pulmonary hypertension of the

newborn. Newborns with this rare but life-threatening condition do not

receive

enough oxygen in the blood and require intensive-care treatment to survive.

According to the study, babies born with this condition were six times more

likely than healthy babies to have been exposed to SSRIs. This information

is

considered to be preliminary at this time.

Numerous reports in Canada and abroad have already indicated that some

children exposed to SSRIs and other newer antidepressants during pregnancy

may

develop serious complications at birth. An increase in the overall risk of

major birth defects has also been associated with SSRI use.

The safety of these drugs is vigilantly monitored and Canadians will

continue to be informed if new concerns arise. Health Canada advisories on

other SSRI-related complications in newborns are available on the Health

Canada website

(http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hpfb-dgpsa/tpd-dpt/index_advisories_public_e.html,

see

August 9, 2004, October 6, 2005 and December 22, 2005).

Managing the adverse reactions of marketed health products depends on

the

active participation of both healthcare professionals and consumers in

reporting these reactions. The spontaneous reporting of adverse reactions

generally underestimates the risks associated with the use of marketed

health

products.

To report a suspected adverse reaction to SSRIs or other newer

antidepressants, please contact the Canadian Adverse Drug Reaction

Monitoring

Program (CADRMP) of Health Canada by one of the following methods:

Telephone: 866-234-2345

Facsimile: 866-678-6789

CADRMP

Marketed Health Products Directorate

Health Protection Building, Tunney's Pasture, AL 0701C

Email: cadrmp@...

Consumers requiring more information about this advisory can contact the

Health Canada public inquiries line at (613) 957-2991, or toll free at

1-866-225-0709.

[Guest guest]

http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/March2006/10/c1097.html

Attention News/Health Editors:

Advisory - Newer antidepressants linked to serious lung disorder in newborns

OTTAWA, March 10 /CNW Telbec/ - Health Canada is advising women who are

taking antidepressants known as Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors

(SSRI) and who are pregnant or intend to become pregnant to discuss the

situation with their doctor due to potential risks to the baby.

Health Canada stresses that patients should not stop taking SSRI

medication without first consulting their doctors, as they could experience

serious side effects.

Generally, SSRI treatment should only be continued if the benefits to

the

individual patient are thought to outweigh the risks to the unborn child,

while also considering the benefits and risks of switching to another

treatment option or stopping treatment altogether. These precautions and the

possibility of adverse health effects in newborns are mentioned in the

current

Canadian prescribing information and consumer information for SSRIs.

SSRIs and other newer antidepressants prescribed for the treatment of

depression include the following drugs: Wellbutrin (bupropion), Celexa

(citalopram), Cipralex (escitalopram), Prozac (fluoxetine), Luvox

(fluvoxamine), Remeron (mirtazapine), Paxil (paroxetine), Zoloft

(sertraline)

and Effexor (venlafaxine), and Zyban (bupropion) for smoking cessation.

A study published recently in the New England Journal of Medicine

suggests that use of SSRIs during the second half of pregnancy may be

associated with a condition called persistent pulmonary hypertension of the

newborn. Newborns with this rare but life-threatening condition do not

receive

enough oxygen in the blood and require intensive-care treatment to survive.

According to the study, babies born with this condition were six times more

likely than healthy babies to have been exposed to SSRIs. This information

is

considered to be preliminary at this time.

Numerous reports in Canada and abroad have already indicated that some

children exposed to SSRIs and other newer antidepressants during pregnancy

may

develop serious complications at birth. An increase in the overall risk of

major birth defects has also been associated with SSRI use.

The safety of these drugs is vigilantly monitored and Canadians will

continue to be informed if new concerns arise. Health Canada advisories on

other SSRI-related complications in newborns are available on the Health

Canada website

(http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hpfb-dgpsa/tpd-dpt/index_advisories_public_e.html,

see

August 9, 2004, October 6, 2005 and December 22, 2005).

Managing the adverse reactions of marketed health products depends on

the

active participation of both healthcare professionals and consumers in

reporting these reactions. The spontaneous reporting of adverse reactions

generally underestimates the risks associated with the use of marketed

health

products.

To report a suspected adverse reaction to SSRIs or other newer

antidepressants, please contact the Canadian Adverse Drug Reaction

Monitoring

Program (CADRMP) of Health Canada by one of the following methods:

Telephone: 866-234-2345

Facsimile: 866-678-6789

CADRMP

Marketed Health Products Directorate

Health Protection Building, Tunney's Pasture, AL 0701C

Email: cadrmp@...

Consumers requiring more information about this advisory can contact the

Health Canada public inquiries line at (613) 957-2991, or toll free at

1-866-225-0709.

[Guest guest]

http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/March2006/10/c1097.html

Attention News/Health Editors:

Advisory - Newer antidepressants linked to serious lung disorder in newborns

OTTAWA, March 10 /CNW Telbec/ - Health Canada is advising women who are

taking antidepressants known as Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors

(SSRI) and who are pregnant or intend to become pregnant to discuss the

situation with their doctor due to potential risks to the baby.

Health Canada stresses that patients should not stop taking SSRI

medication without first consulting their doctors, as they could experience

serious side effects.

Generally, SSRI treatment should only be continued if the benefits to

the

individual patient are thought to outweigh the risks to the unborn child,

while also considering the benefits and risks of switching to another

treatment option or stopping treatment altogether. These precautions and the

possibility of adverse health effects in newborns are mentioned in the

current

Canadian prescribing information and consumer information for SSRIs.

SSRIs and other newer antidepressants prescribed for the treatment of

depression include the following drugs: Wellbutrin (bupropion), Celexa

(citalopram), Cipralex (escitalopram), Prozac (fluoxetine), Luvox

(fluvoxamine), Remeron (mirtazapine), Paxil (paroxetine), Zoloft

(sertraline)

and Effexor (venlafaxine), and Zyban (bupropion) for smoking cessation.

A study published recently in the New England Journal of Medicine

suggests that use of SSRIs during the second half of pregnancy may be

associated with a condition called persistent pulmonary hypertension of the

newborn. Newborns with this rare but life-threatening condition do not

receive

enough oxygen in the blood and require intensive-care treatment to survive.

According to the study, babies born with this condition were six times more

likely than healthy babies to have been exposed to SSRIs. This information

is

considered to be preliminary at this time.

Numerous reports in Canada and abroad have already indicated that some

children exposed to SSRIs and other newer antidepressants during pregnancy

may

develop serious complications at birth. An increase in the overall risk of

major birth defects has also been associated with SSRI use.

The safety of these drugs is vigilantly monitored and Canadians will

continue to be informed if new concerns arise. Health Canada advisories on

other SSRI-related complications in newborns are available on the Health

Canada website

(http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hpfb-dgpsa/tpd-dpt/index_advisories_public_e.html,

see

August 9, 2004, October 6, 2005 and December 22, 2005).

Managing the adverse reactions of marketed health products depends on

the

active participation of both healthcare professionals and consumers in

reporting these reactions. The spontaneous reporting of adverse reactions

generally underestimates the risks associated with the use of marketed

health

products.

To report a suspected adverse reaction to SSRIs or other newer

antidepressants, please contact the Canadian Adverse Drug Reaction

Monitoring

Program (CADRMP) of Health Canada by one of the following methods:

Telephone: 866-234-2345

Facsimile: 866-678-6789

CADRMP

Marketed Health Products Directorate

Health Protection Building, Tunney's Pasture, AL 0701C

Email: cadrmp@...

Consumers requiring more information about this advisory can contact the

Health Canada public inquiries line at (613) 957-2991, or toll free at

1-866-225-0709.