A rat study published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry recently found that exposure to fluoxetine (Prozac™) both during gestation and breastfeeding significantly affected brain development in offspring. “The results gathered by this research team hint at the possibility that a mother’s intake of FLX during pregnancy could have long-term effects on the development of their offspring’s brain, potentially increasing the risk that they will develop neurodevelopmental or psychiatric disorders. To have clinical implications, however, they should be validated in human populations.”
Fluoxetine is what is called a “prodrug”, meaning it has to be altered in the body to affect the serotonin effect. It is much slower acting. All “anti”depressants increase serotonin levels in the brain beyond what nature intended. It seems likely that other “anti”depressant drugs, acting much more quickly to increase serotonin, could do even more damage to developing children. The “serotonin hypothesis” is debated, although most experts consider it a failure in explaining depression. Is it time for these chemicals be banned?
