Paxil may raise birth defect risk, Health Canada warns

Women who take the antidepressant Paxil during pregnancy should know about the drug's new safety information, Health Canada says.

Evidence suggests the risk of birth defects is doubled in babies born to women who took the drug during the first trimester of pregnancy, compared to those taking other antidepressants.

The drug's maker, GlaxoSmithKline, discovered a higher rate of heart-related defects during a large U.S. study.

The majority of the problems were ventricular septal defects, or holes in the muscular wall between the heart's left and right lower chambers. Most such defects are mild, and the majority spontaneously correct themselves after birth, the department said in a release.

Women who are currently taking the drug and are pregnant or plan to become pregnant are reminded to talk to their doctor about the potential risks and benefits of the drug, Health Canada said.

Patients should not stop taking paroxetine, the drug's generic name, without first checking with their doctor, because of the risk of symptoms when discontinuing the medication.