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Pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to depression, but women who take anti-depressants during pregnancy may be predisposing their infants to Type 2 diabetes and obesity later in life, says a study. Maternal use of a class of anti-depressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs increase risk of obesity and diabetes in children, the findings showed.
Obesity and Type 2 diabetes in children is on the rise and there is the argument that it is related to lifestyle and availability of high calorie foods and reduced physical activity. 'Our study has found that maternal anti-depressant use may also be a contributing factor to the obesity and diabetes epidemic,' said Alison Holloway, associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at McMaster University in Canada. (Read: Can depression during pregnancy affect a baby's language skills?)
'We have demonstrated for the first time in an animal model that maternal use of a class of anti-depressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs resulted in increased fat accumulation and inflammation in the liver of the adult offspring,' Nicole De Long from McMaster University said. The study does not suggest women should avoid taking anti-depressants during pregnancy, only that there may be risks associated with anti-depressants that have not been previously identified, Holloway added. (Read: Revealed how anti-depressants work inside the brain)
How do anti-depressants help in depression?
Our mood is affected by chemical messages sent and received by the brain cells (neurons). These chemicals are called neurotransmitters. Serotonin and norepinephrine are two neurotransmitters that mainly affect our mood. When the amount of these neurotransmitters drop at the junction of neurons, we are likely to be sad or depressed.
Antidepressants are a class of drugs that help to restore the balance of these neurotransmitters in the brain. They treat depression by influencing the production of these neurotransmitters or making them more available at the junction of neurons. They are highly effective in people with severe depression who feel better 70% of times after taking antidepressants. (Read: Exercise can vanquish depression!)
For what conditions are they used?
There are different types of antidepressants like Serotonin-specific reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), Tricyclic antidepressants and Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) that may be prescribed for different conditions depending on the severity of depression. Common conditions include general and social anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorders (OCD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Some antidepressants are also used for hot flashes, premenstrual symptoms and bulimia nervosa (tendency of overeating). Read more about Antidepressant drugs all your queries answered
With inputs from IANS
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