Pregnancy Induced Hypertension Risk Increased By Antidepressant Use, Paxil Has Highest Risk

Many women suffer from depression while pregnant.  The depression can become severe enough that prescription antidepressants are prescribed.

Pregnancy induced hypertension (high blood pressure) risk is increased by the use of antidepressants reports The New York Times.

The British Journal for Clinical Pharmacology reports that pregnant women had a 53% increase in high blood pressure from any type of antidepressants and that Paxil specifically increased that risk to 81%.

Although antidepressants are one of the most prescribed medications during pregnancy, there have not been long term studies done on the effects antidepressants have on the health of the women.

“It’s a very tricky situation for physicians and women themselves,” says Dr. Anick Berard, the lead author of the study and director of the research unit on medications and pregnancy at St. Justine’s Hospital in Montreal. “But if there’s more benefit, then I would suggest take the medication, monitor the pregnancy and make sure that everything goes accordingly.”