A major women’s health advocacy group issued a strong warning today against the use of Paxil by pregnant women or those who plan to become pregnant. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) urged that paroxetine (the generic term for Paxil) be avoided during or before pregnancy because of the potential risk of fetal heart defects, newborn persistent pulmonary hypertension, and other negative effects.

In their announcement, the ACOG noted: “Unpublished data regarding the use of Paxil during the first trimester of pregnancy have raised concerns about an increased risk of congenital heart malformations.” In December of 2005, the FDA changed the drug’s classification from Category C to Category D, which means that observational or controlled studies of pregnant women have shown that consumption of the drug during pregnancy is a risk to the fetus. (A Category C classification is for drugs that have been shown to harm fetuses in animal studies but have not been adequately studied in humans.)
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A new report published in the New Zealand Herald is calling into question the long-term benefits of laser eye operations. According to the Herald, a new study has shown that patients who have undergone laser surgery for near-sightedness are susceptible to haze, glare and blurred vision when they reach their 60s and 70s.

One of the researchers, Otago University head of ophthalmology Anthony Molteno, told the Herald that the new findings may lead to substantial legal class actions in the future.
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