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Friday, December 11, 2009

Clonazepam - Klonopin and Imipramine are teratogen

After reading that "There are about 600 Paxil/Seroxat/Aropax birth defects lawsuits are already outstanding against GlaxoSmithKline," I am checking some of the other psych-drugs that causes birth-defects and found that the benzodiazepine clonazepam Klonopin and the antidepressant Imipramine are both teratogenic:

Klonopin:
Warnings

Pregnancy:
Recent reports indicate an association between the use of anticonvulsant drugs and an elevated incidence of birth defects in children born to epileptic women taking such medication during pregnancy. The incidence of congenital malformations in the general population is regarded to be approximately 2%; in children of treated epileptic women this incidence may be increased 2 to 3 fold. The increase is largely due to specific defects, e.g., congenital malformations of the heart, and cleft lip and/or palate. Nevertheless, the great majority of mothers receiving anticonvulsant medications deliver normal infants.

Imipramine:
Pregnancy:

The safety of imipramine in pregnancy has not been established. Neonates whose mothers had taken imipramine up until delivery have shown symptoms such as dyspnea, lethargy, colic, irritability, hypotension or hypertension, tremor or spasms during the first few hours or days.

Therefore, imipramine should not be administered to women of childbearing potential, particularly during the first trimester and the last 7 weeks of pregnancy, unless in the opinion of the physician the potential benefit to the patient outweighs the possible hazards to the fetus.

That is it! Great news! Klonopin, clonazepam is being prescribed for almost all the population in Brazil. When I go to drugstores there is always someone buying Rivotril, the Brazilian brand-name. If not I ask the pharmacist how are the sales and they say it sells at least one box every half an hour.
It's cheap but it is being prescribed for any emotional problem. As always psychiatrists claim that it helps many patients and that it only takes a slowly withdrawal. I came across with the list of clonazepam withdrawal symptoms. It is hell.
I will publish it tomorrow.
It's too much! I am tired. After having my word taken as if I was out of this planet by a psychiatrist, one more time, one more time, I don't want to talk about it.
Sometimes I believe that these people simply don't have a clue about what they are doing to patients. Seriously! Although this psychiatrist is a researcher and a very known psychiatrist with a real interest in his patients, but I have already heard from two patients that they are taking the "research drugs", ... Does this man is really...
Jesus! I cannot believe. I'm amazed to say the least.

PS He knows about my blog but he doesn't give a damn. I have already told him my story thousand of times and he never knows what has really happened to me. He will diagnose me bipolar, for sure!

3 comments:

eva said...

Thanks for the post. I was on immipramine and was told it was safe. I had an anencephalic baby, which did not survive the birth. I am reading it is all about the Paxil being unsafe for pregnant women..I believe it not just the Paxil.

Eva

eva said...

By the way, I have added my email to this post, if you have any further information I could view.
Thank you,
Eva

Ana said...

OMG! How sad.
Paxil alone is responsible for heart problems in babies and it is better known because there are activists raising the issue.
Few people are on non-SSRIs antidepressants and I believe that this is one of the reasons there is not testimonies.
I'll e-mail you if I find anything.
Be safe. Take good care of yourself.
Start a blog and talking to people who suffered the same problem helps.