Neonatal paroxetine withdrawal syndrome

doi:10.1136/fn.84.2.F134

Short report

Neonatal paroxetine withdrawal syndrome J A Stiskal^a, N Kulin^b, G Koren^b, T Ho^b, S Ito^b

^a Division of Neonatology, Morristown Memorial Hospital, Morristown, New Jersey, USA, ^b Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Motherisk Program, Department of Pediatrics, Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1X8

Correspondence to: Dr Ito ito{at}sickkids.on.ca

Accepted 31 October 2000

Four term neonates presented with symptoms such as jitteriness and necrotising enterocolitis after paroxetine exposure inutero.

Key messages

Paroxetine withdrawal syndrome was suspected in four neonates exposed to the drug in utero at maternal doses ranging from 20 to 120 mg/day
The symptoms and abnormalities included, but were not limited to, jitteriness, vomiting, irritability, hypoglycaemia, and necrotising enterocolitis
Close observation is warranted for neonates exposed to paroxetine in utero

Keywords: neonates; paroxetine; withdrawal; serotonin reuptake inhibitors; necrotising enterocolitis

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eLetters:

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Neonatal paroxetine withdrawal syndrome or actually serotonin syndrome?: Geoffrey K Isbister; Fetal Neonatal Ed. Online, 24 Mar 2001 [Full text]
Neonatal paroxetine withdrawal syndrome or actually serotonin syndrome? - Authors' response: Joseph Stiskal; Fetal Neonatal Ed. Online, 12 Apr 2001 [Full text]

				P Bot, B A Semmekrot, and J van der Stappen Neonatal effects of exposure to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors during pregnancy. Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed., March 1, 2006; 91(2): F153 - F153. [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. M. Haddad, B. R. Pal, P. Clarke, A. Wieck, and S. Sridhiran Neonatal symptoms following maternal paroxetine treatment: Serotonin toxicity or paroxetine discontinuation syndrome? J Psychopharmacol, September 1, 2005; 19(5): 554 - 557. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. L. Mornson, D. W. Rurak, C. Chien, D. J. Kennaway, N. Gruber, I. C. McMillen, and K. W. Riggs Maternal Fluoxetine Infusion Does Not Alter Fetal Endocrine and Biophysical Circadian Rhythms in Pregnant Sheep Reproductive Sciences, July 1, 2005; 12(5): 356 - 364. [Abstract] [PDF]

				E. L. Moses-Kolko, D. Bogen, J. Perel, A. Bregar, K. Uhl, B. Levin, and K. L. Wisner Neonatal Signs After Late In Utero Exposure to Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors: Literature Review and Implications for Clinical Applications JAMA, May 18, 2005; 293(19): 2372 - 2383. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. K ISBISTER, A. DAWSON, I. M WHYTE, F. H PRIOR, C. CLANCY, A. J SMITH, J. A STISKAL, and S. ITO Neonatal paroxetine withdrawal syndrome or actually serotonin syndrome? Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed., September 1, 2001; 85(2): F145g - 145. [Full Text]