When pregnant women take antidepressants, it sometimes causes their babies to hit developmental milestones late, Danish researchers. However, the delays–up to one month–still place the toddlers within the normal range of development. “These drugs have an effect on the fetus’ brain,” said Dr. Lars Henning Pedersen, who worked on the study. But, he said, the [...]

Researchers at UQ’s Queensland Brain Institute have uncovered how antidepressants stimulate the brain to improve a person’s mood. They have discovered the class of drugs that increase levels of a neurotransmitter known as ‘norepinephrine’ triggers neurogenesis – the growth of new neurons – in a brain region called the hippocampus. “If you block hippocampus neurogenesis, [...]

Women who take certain antidepressant drugs while pregnant may double their child’s risk of being born with a certain variety of heart defect, according to a study conducted by researchers from Aarhaus University in Denmark and published in the medical journal BMJ. “Anyone who is pregnant or considering becoming pregnant and has any concerns about [...]

A medical study in Queensland has shed new light on the impact that some anti-depressants have on a person’s brain. Researchers at the Queensland Brain Institute tested how a part of the brain responded to chemicals in different anti-depressants. It was thought drugs like Prozac produced new cells in the brain that then improved a [...]

An paper published in January’s Journal of the American Medical Association has the medical community revisiting the use of antidepressants for mild to moderate depression. “The study came out, and it was actually the compilation of six different studies,” said Dr. Jeffrey Ripperda, MD, of Murphysboro Health Center. “It showed that antidepressants are no better [...]