1st Trimester Antidepressant Use Tied to Autism Risk

PsychCentral ^ | April 17, 2014 | Rick Nauert

[Scoutmaster]

I'm not suggesting that FReepers with autistic children, or FReepers with family members who have autistic children, used anti-depressants. The article simply caught my eye.

[grania]

I’m dumbfounded that anti-depressents would be prescribed or taken during pregnancy.

[Izzy Dunne]

It seems that ASD has many causes. This might be one.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

I thought thalidomide taught us that drugs of any kind during pregnancy are a bad idea?

[Steely Tom]

I’m dumbfounded that anti-depressents would be prescribed or taken during pregnancy.

Same here. And when did this practice start, last month?

I can't believe no one has checked into this connection before now.

[knarf]

Leads me to wonder ...

If a woman has missed a couple of periods and she's feeling 'down' ... doesn't she think she might be pregnant and not 'depressed' ?

If she approaches her Dr., doesn't he ask if she's pregnant ?

I'm not saying this is or is not 'a' cause for autism, but merely wondering how it could happen.

[SueRae]

Me too.

[no-to-illegals]

Mom told me what the doctor made her take while pregnant with me. I understand after research why am the way I am. All has been made clear. Thank You. I’m suing Mom.

[CaptainK]

Think of all the women who are already on anti depressants and don’t know they are pregnant for 6 to 8 weeks.

[silverleaf]

do you have any idea how many chemicals are now present in the body tissues of every one of us? Deliberate ingestion is just one mode.

some of these chemicals affect the developing fetus before the women even knows she is pregnant

A substance that even touches the skin is absorbed into the organs within 20 minutes, and some of the chemicals accumulate. I think it’s possible not only our air, food and drug chain but our “beauty” industry has a something to do with the epidemic of unhealthy children being born to middle and upperclass women

[grania]

Think of all the women who are already on antidepressents who don't know they are pregnant for 6 to 8 weeks.

A woman is suspicious she's become pregnant way before that point. A lot of those ads for other stuff on TV include "if you're pregnant or might become pregnant...." in the list of those who shouldn't take the drugs. I would've assumed such retrictions were on anti-depressents, too.

The problem with "crack babies" has been known for over a generation. Why would these other drugs be any different in those effects?

[Seruzawa]

Well, if women are already on antidepressants and they get pregnant, they are stuck with it. Ever seen the withdrawals from trying to come of those things?

[LearsFool]

A new Johns Hopkins study discovers an association between prenatal exposure to antidepressant medications, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and developmental delays (DD) in boys.

So in other words, it's like feeding your son soy, or sending him to public school?

[utahagen]

I also wonder why someone who is depressed would intentionally get pregnant.

[allendale]

Try first trimester marijuana, cocaine, amphetamine, alcohol and tobacco use being linked to autism. Decadence has its consequences.

[grania]

I think you're correct about the constant onslaught our bodies face from chemicals. I went "pure foods and environment"4 1/2 years ago. Of course pure means avoiding not all chemicals, but as many as are in your control.

So far, so good. It takes a few years to cleanse ones body, but it's worth it. JMHO

[Mr Ramsbotham]

Do you have any idea how many chemicals are now present in the body tissues of every one of us?

Why yes, I do. For instance I weigh 184 pounds; therefore there are 184 pounds of chemicals in my body.

[txrefugee]

According to studies, the water table has been polluted with birth control drugs. Why can’t the same be said for these anti-depressants? One might not even take the drugs to be exposed to them.

[CaptainK]

“A woman is suspicious she’s become pregnant way before that point.”

Some women are, some aren’t.

[jimmyray]

QUOTE: "I’m dumbfounded that anti-depressents would be prescribed or taken during pregnancy."

I'm surprised practically any drug is prescribed during pregnancy! I avoid pharmaceuticals to the utmost as I generally regard the side effects worse than the original malady.

My teeth are a permanent, un-bleachable shade of yellowish off-white because my mother took tetracyclene when she was pregnant with me. I am of the opinion that all drugs should be avoided while pregnant, unless the life of either child or mother is in jeopardy.