Antidepressants Drastically Increase the Risk for Miscarriages

Wednesday, September 01, 2010 by: Mike Barrett
Tags: antidepressants, miscarriages, health news

(NewsTarget) Antidepressants have become the most commonly prescribed drug in the United States. They are prescribed even more often than drugs to treat high blood pressure, which one in every three Americans suffer from. In 2005 alone, doctors prescribed 118 million antidepressants to people around the country. The number of users is growing, but not without risk. Recent studies have shown that pregnant women using antidepressants are more likely to suffer from a miscarriage than those who do not take antidepressant medication. In fact, their chances are increased by an outrageous 68%. With millions of women becoming pregnant every year, there are also millions taking antidepressants. In a recent study, of 5,124 women who verified miscarriages, almost 300 of them were taking antidepressants. That's almost 6% of the whole group that lost a child due to drug use.

Almost 20% of all pregnancies end in a miscarriage, and the percentage is at risk of rapidly heightening. On January 6, 2010, the Mother's Act was passed. The bill states, "To ensure that new mothers and their families are educated about postpartum depression, screened for symptoms, and provided with essential services, and to increase research at the National Institutes of Health on postpartum depression."

Increasing numbers of pregnant women are learning about depression and are being diagnosed. Many women who would not have sought help otherwise are now requesting prescriptions as a result of this new bill. With more pregnant women receiving antidepressants, miscarriages will only continue to escalate. According to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Events Reporting System data, antidepressants were responsible for:
-4,360 critical birth defects
-4,160 critical heart defects
-2,900 spontaneous abortions
-3,000 premature births

More pregnant women than ever before are requesting antidepressants to avoid the "baby blues." What they aren't aware of are the risk factors that come from the harmful ingredients that are found in many antidepressants: paroxetine and venlafaxine. Even antidepressants not containing those drugs are found to be harmful. Combining different antidepressants has shown to even double the risk.

To avoid miscarriage, women should take precaution and avoid unnecessary medications. Stress and depression are common problems among pregnant women, but there are healthier options than prescription drugs. Preparing for pregnancy emotionally and mentally will decrease the "need" for unnecessary drugs. There are a wide variety of nutritional and dietary supplements available to naturally support pregnancy and eliminate the need for harmful antidepressants.

This false-perception that drugs are the answer to our problems is quickly permeating the globe. Bills such as the Mother's Act, which encourage women to take antidepressants as a solution for their postpartum depression, are pushing society even further in the wrong direction. There are solutions out there that don't require harsh drug consumption that will only cause problems. It's only a matter of time before people realize it.

Sources:

http://www.wellnessresources.com/studies/ent...
http://www.wellnessresources.com/freedom/art...
http://www.amazingpregnancy.com/pregnancy-ar...
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd...

About the author

Mike Barrett is a writer and entrepreneur with an affinity for natural health and exercise. He has helped thousands around the globe transform their lives through his informative writing. His work is featured on (http://NaturalSociety.com), a natural health website that he helped to create. As a founder of NaturalSociety, Mike focuses on getting life-saving natural health techniques out to the world in a timely and efficient manner, syndicating his articles around the web. Mike maintains a degree in Business, and is constantly researching the many new advances in the field of nutrition and kinesiology.