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Common Antidepressant Drugs Linked to Delayed Lactation
The reasons to avoid SSRI drugs just keep coming. This news comes days after studies found a 45% increase in stroke and that the drugs don't work in over half of those given the medication.

New mothers who are taking a common class of antidepressants may have a delay in lactation and need extra support to breastfeed, researchers say.

The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRI type of antidepressants such as Prozac and Paxil may be linked with a delay in the start of full milk secretion, according to a study to be published in the February issue of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

The body's production and regulation of the hormone serotonin is closely related to the ability of the breasts to secrete milk at the right time, said study co-author Nelson Horseman of the University of Cincinnati.

While SSRI drugs can affect mood, emotion and sleep, "they may also impact serotonin regulation in the breast, placing new mothers at greater risk of a delay in the establishment of a full milk supply," he said in a release.

In the study, researchers looked at the effects of SSRI on milk production in 431 new mothers.

The average onset of lactation was 85.8 hours postpartum for the SSRI-treated mothers and 69.1 hours for mothers not treated with SSRI drugs, the team found. They defined a delay as 72 hours after the birth.

"More human research is needed before we can make specific recommendations regarding SSRI use during breastfeeding," such as studies on a larger number of women and comparing different antidepressant drugs,” said Horseman.

The Canadian Pediatric Society, Health Canada, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization all recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a baby's life.

Breast milk is considered best because the fluid meets a baby's nutritional needs, is easily digested, and contains antibodies that prevent infections and other diseases, while also promoting the mother's health.

This news comes on the heels of two other studies recently published on SSRI drugs.

One study found that the drugs have the opposite effect intended by reducing serotonin levels in half of those that receive the drug.

The other study found that women who have been through menopause taking antidepressants were 45 per cent more likely to suffer a stroke than those of the same age not on the medicines. The research also found that overall death rates were 32 per cent higher in women on the drugs.