Brain Defects Linked To Common Anxiety Drug Use, Shows Research

Researchers have reportedly given a warning that a commonly prescribed drug for treating epilepsy, anxiety, pain and other brain health conditions may be related to an increased risk of major birth defects. Incidentally, the drug called pregablin is Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved to treat various disorders, in addition to being used for general anxiety and other mental health issues.

A recent study published on an online issue of Neurology, reveals that researchers gathered data of 164 women in seven nations who took pregabalin during pregnancy, as well as from 656 pregnant women who did not consume any anti-seizure drugs. 115 of the women were taking pregabalin for treating neuropathic pain, 39 were taking it for psychiatric disorders, five for epilepsy and one had it for restless leg syndrome relief.  Subsequently, a checkup was reportedly conducted with the women and their doctors after their expected delivery date.

The researching team found that the women who took pregabalin during the first trimester of pregnancy had three times the chance of delivering a baby with major birth defects compared to those who did not take the anti seizure drug. As per the report, the major birth defects included structural problems with the nervous system and other organs as well as heart defects; however, the experts could not conclusively decide a cause and effect link between them.

"We can't draw any definitive conclusions from this study, since many of the women were taking other drugs that could have played a role in the birth defects and because the study was small and the results need to be confirmed with larger studies," said Ursula Wintefield, study author. She also said that the results do not confirm that there could be an increased risk for major birth defects related to pregabalin intake during the first trimester of pregnancy. However, Wintefield added that extra fetal monitoring is needed for women who have taken pregabalin during pregnancy.