Paxil (paroxetine) is a prescription medication commonly used in the treatment of Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD). The FDA has issued two advisories specific to the use of Paxil during pregnancy:
December 8, 2005: FDA advisory warns that exposure to paroxetine in the first trimester of pregnancy may increase the risk of birth defects, particularly heart defects.
July 19, 2006: FDA reports the results of a study showing that women taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs; the class of medications that Paxil belongs to) after the 20th week of pregnancy were six times more likely to have babies with persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN), a serious and life-threatening lung condition.
If you are pregnant or considering becoming pregnant, your doctor will help you to decide whether the potential benefits of taking Paxil outweigh the risks for your particular situation.
