A study by the Autism Research Program found that women who use antidepressants, specifically selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) while being pregnant are twice as likely to give birth to children with autism spectrum disorder.
The study, which compared the records of more than 1800 children, shows that the risk even triples for women who take SSRIs during the first trimester of pregnancy.
The FDA says SSRIs include, among others, Citalopram (Celexa), Escitalopram (Lexapro), Fluoxetine (Prozac, Prozac Weekly, Sarafem) and Paroxetine (Paxil, Paxil CR, Pexeva).
