Pregnancy and Paxil: Not in the First Trimester
According to The Center for Drug Evaluation and Research of the U.S Food and Drug Administration, preliminary results of two important studies indicate that the popular antidepressant Paxil (also known as Pexeva or paroxetine) increases the risk of congenital defects, particularly cardiovascular malformations, when taken during the first trimester of pregnancy. Based on these findings, Paxil’s pregnancy category has been changed from “C” to “D,” indicating that studies show that its use in pregnant women have demonstrated an associated risk to the fetus. For these reasons, Paxil should generally not be initiated in women who are in their first trimester of pregnancy or in women who plan to become pregnant. Women already taking Paxil who become pregnant or who are currently in their first trimester of pregnancy should be alerted to the potential risk to the fetus and counseled regarding whether Paxil should be discontinued and possibly replaced by another antidepressant. For certain women, however, the benefits of continuing Paxil may outweigh the potential risk to the fetus. The FDA is currently awaiting the final results of the recent studies and accruing additional data pertaining to the use of Paxil in pregnancy in order to better characterize its associated risks. The FDA will provide updates as new information becomes available.
To view the FDA alert regarding the use of Paxil in pregnancy, please click here. To visit the manufacturer’s website, please click on GlaxoSmithKline.