FDA Drug Official Moves To Hire A Friend Who Touts Unproven Claims About Antidepressants

"Nearly 18% of American women 18 and older take an antidepressant medication, according to the latest federal data available, though more recent studies suggest that number has risen to 23%. That means roughly a quarter of women in the U.S. have weighed the risks and benefits of treating their depression and chosen to do so."

"Medical experts have decried Urato's efforts, saying the data he's citing is 'flimsy' - it's based on animal studies and too-small human ones. The importance of continuing to take SSRIs shown to be safe in pregnancy is clearly borne out by the data. Large studies have shown women diagnosed with depression prior to becoming pregnant have a 20-times higher risk of developing postpartum depression."

"In a tweet listing the research he says backs up his claims, Urato cites 12 studies, all of which state more research is needed before acting on their findings."

Approximately 23% of American women take antidepressants, representing a significant portion of the population managing depression. The FDA's acting director is attempting to hire a researcher who advocates for adding boxed warnings to antidepressants claiming they cause pregnancy complications including miscarriages and autism. Medical experts reject this approach, citing weak evidence based primarily on animal studies and small human trials. Large-scale research demonstrates that women with depression history face a 20-fold increased risk of postpartum depression, emphasizing the importance of continued SSRI treatment during pregnancy. The researcher's cited studies explicitly state that more research is needed before drawing conclusions.

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