International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

Pregnant women who take antidepressant Prozac are twice as likely to give birth to babies with a congenital heart problem, according to the medicines regulator.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulator Agency (MHRA), UK, has warned there is a possible small risk of congenital heart defects if women took the drug in the early stages of pregnancy, the Times reported.

Evidence from a number of studies of fluoxetine, Prozac's active ingredient, was looked at by the agency.

From this the MHRA concluded it could double the background rate of congenital heart defects.

Around one in every 100 babies born has a problem such as a heart murmur, hole in the heart or other problem associated with the organ.

According to the MHRA's estimates, this rate increases to nearly two in every 100 births if the mother has been prescribed fluoxetine whilst pregnant.

A recent study carried out at Stanford University, US, discovered an alternative to Prozac to treat depression in pregnant women.

According to the research, acupuncture specifically designed to treat depression appears to reduce symptoms during pregnancy.