Tag Archives: medication

Study Finds Increased Use of Medications During Pregnancy

According to Max Health, an increasing number of pregnant women are using medications. According to a study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the rise of medications during pregnancy may raise the risk of fetal damage. The study reiterated that drugs such as isotretinoin, thalidomide, Phenobarbital and valporate have been known to cause birth defects. However, little is known about the effects of the majority of prescription and over-the-counter drugs that are commonly taken during pregnancy. The study suggests it is impossible for pregnant women to know if medications they are taking pose a potential threat to the fetus. At the same time, information about birth defects and medications use may prompt some women to stop taking medications they need to treat a serious health condition. The study was a collaboration between Boston University’s Slone Epidemiology Center, Harvard School of Publish Health and the Centers for Disease…
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Study Examines Effects of Epilepsy Medications on Pregnant Women

According to MSNBC, women with epilepsy face a difficult decision when they decide to have children, as they either must their medicine to prevent a seizure or they risk hurting the fetus. A new study from researches at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden found that children of mothers receiving polytherapy – a combination of epilepsy drugs – had 3 times greater odds of not finishing school. The study examined 1,235 children born to mothers with epilepsy between 1973 and 1986. Children of mothers who were only taking a single medication did not seem to be as effected and were able to complete school just like their peers, although they were less likely to pass classes with excellence. Doctors not involved with the study claim it is important for mothers to know that they are able to have normal kids. Childbearing is an important consideration for women with epilepsy, as drugs…
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Paxil and Pregnancy

During pregnancy, it would be best if you never had to take medications, however, sometimes it is necessary for your overall wellbeing to take the medications.  Some women with severe depression or other conditions face a difficult decision about taking their medications during pregnancy since some antidepressants have been shown to increase the risk of birth defects when taken during pregnancy. Such women may be advised that the benefits of taking an antidepressant during pregnancy outweigh the risks. While this may be partially true, some studies show Paxil is an antidepressant that has significant risks for pregnant women and their developing babies. Studies have shown that Paxil can be linked to heart defects such as atrial and ventricular septal defects, which are characterized by holes in the walls of the chambers of the heart. Heart-related Paxil birth defects range in severity from minor, which may resolve without treatment, to severe conditions,…
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