A recent study has indicated that the use of Prozac, known as fluoxetine, by around 400,000 pregnant women in the US each year could potentially impact a baby's brain development in the womb, leading to an increased risk of mental health problems in the future. The research revealed that the drug can elevate mood-boosting serotonin levels, affecting the child's developing prefrontal cortex.

According to Professor Won Chan Oh from the University of Colorado, the study provides experimental evidence on how serotonin directly influences the prefrontal cortex when fluoxetine is taken during pregnancy. The findings stress the importance of considering non-pharmaceutical treatments for pregnant women and those experiencing postnatal depression, as antidepressants, particularly Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) drugs, might pose risks to the developing brain.

Published in Nature Communications, the study investigated the effects of serotonin deficiencies and excesses on brain development in mice and raised concerns about the possible consequences of Prozac on the maturing teenage brain. The rise of antidepressant prescriptions in the UK, with 86 million issued in the 2022/23 period to an approximated 8.6 million patients, highlights the growing dependence on such medications.

In light of these findings, it is recommended that healthcare providers carefully evaluate the risks and benefits of prescribing antidepressants to pregnant women and those nursing newborns, as alternative treatments like exercise and yoga have been suggested to be as effective as medication in alleviating depression symptoms, as indicated in a recent study.