Between 1998 and 2007, mind-altering medications were associated with 429 adverse drug reactions in Danish children under the age of 17. Researchers from the University of Copenhagen’s Faculty of Pharmaceutical Studies have published an article in the open access journal BMC Research Notes concluding that more than half of the 429 cases were serious and several involved birth defects, such as birth deformities and severe withdrawal syndromes.
Professors Lise Aagaard and Ebbe Holme Hansen from the University of Copenhagen studied all 4,500 paediatric adverse drug reaction reports submitted during the study period to find those which were linked to mind-altering medications. The two researchers found that 42% of adverse reactions were reported for psycho-stimulants, such as Ritalin, which treats attention deficit disorder (ADD), followed by 31% for antidepressants, such as Prozac, and 24% for antipsychotics, such as Haldol.
"A range of serious side effects such as
- birth deformities,
- low birth weight,
- premature birth, and
- development of neonatal withdrawal syndrome
were reported in children under two years of age, most likely because of the mother’s intake of mind-altering medication during pregnancy," says Associate Professor Lisa Aagaard.
Use of antidepressants is increasing
The researchers believe that these tendencies should serve as a warning to pregnant women, doctors and health care personnel.
"Mind-altering medication should not be prescribed in ordinary circumstances, because this type of medication has a long half-life. If people take their medicine as prescribed it will be a constantly high dosage, and it could take weeks for one single tablet to exit the body’s system. Three out of four pregnancies are planned, and therefore society must take responsibility for informing women about the serious risks of transferring side effects to their unborn child," says Aagaard.
There is a clear indication that use of antidepressants is increasing in Denmark, as well as in many other countries, and the tendency is the same when it comes to pregnant women.
"We are constantly reminded about the dangers of alcohol use and smoking during pregnancy, but there is no information offered to women with regards to use of mind-altering medication. There is simply not enough knowledge available in this area," concludes Aagaard, suggesting that greater control should be required when prescribing mind-altering medications to pregnant women.
From EurekAlert
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Alcohol Self-Help News 
I could not agree with you more Dr Agresti.
Treating symptoms is not acceptable. Holistic treatment should be the norm.
There is so much that we must be careful of during pregnancy, especially medications which travel through the bloodstream and can have a direct effect on the unborn baby. I understand that some physicians feel the need to prescribe certain drugs for certain issues, but I feel that more natural options proven not to have negative effects on infants should be looked into before prescriptions are casually offered.
I say casually because we have become a society that medicates everything, rather than looking for more natural options (or better yet, seeking the problem at its root and then working to treat the problem). There are many studies that link several common health issues such as ADD to improper diet. Some studies have linked ADHD behavioral extremities to a diet of excess protein or deficient in other needed nutrients.
During pregnancy, I think that aspects of health such as diet and sleeping pattern should be seriously taken into consideration before medication is prescribed. In certain situations it may be absolutely necessary. But I am of the belief that many of our common ailments can be associated with a poor diet, and taking the necessary steps to improve that diet may help to calm some symptoms experienced.