Taking antidepressants made pregnant women wonder if it is acceptable for use during pregnancy. Spreading in the news like wildfire, the risks associated in using antidepressants is a hot topic. The Food and Drug Association have been receiving complaints about those drugs. The market has a lot of available antidepressants that consumers can buy. Even diabetics are now using antidepressants. Diabetes and depression has been managed simultaneously in many researches in order to illicit desirable results.

Because of the increasing number of men and women taking antidepressants, the FDA has been trying to warn the public of the possible risks. Pharmaceutical companies is trying to market antidepressants as safe to use in pregnant women in order to catch a wider demographic. Although the truth still rings true that taking medications during pregnancy puts the baby at risk. This dilemma often leaves women confused.

Doctors are advised by the FDA to brief their patients of the potential risks associated with antidepressant use. There were studies conducted for knowing the truth behind their side effects. To really comprehend the associated risks and benefits of the drug, extensive research is being done.

The FDA has received reports about women having babies with birth defects blamed on antidepressants. The first trimester is often the time to avoid medications, says obstetrician and gynecologist alike. Medications taken during the first three months would affect the organ development of the baby. Using Sertraline or Zoloft during the first trimester may result to particular birth defects associated with it. The exact mechanism of antidepressants at work in users has not been known.

Risks and benefits should be evaluated by doctors to determine if the women really need to take antidepressants all throughout the pregnancy. A woman needs to watch out for certain risks in the antidepressant that she are using. The FDA has even labeled Zoloft as a category C for its pregnancy risk. The last research by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed that 4.5 percent of pregnant women take antidepressants three months before pregnancy and while they are pregnant. Taking Zoloft during pregnancy left women fearing for their baby developing Zoloft birth defects.

URL References:
http://www.otispregnancy.org/files/sertraline.pdf
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/antidepressants/DN00007
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/pregnancy_gateway/meds/data.html