IN-UTERO EXPOSURE TO FLUOXETINE HCL INCREASES HEMATOMA FREQUENCY AT BIRTH

The present study was undertaken to determine if fluoxetine HCl (Proza c, Dista Products Ltd., Liverpool, UK) might cause adverse vascular ef fects, such as hematomas, in rats exposed in utero. Gravid Sprague-Daw ley rats were administered 5.62 mg/kg fluoxetine HCl by oral gavage be ginning on day 7 of gestation and ending the day of birth. A control g roup received distilled water by oral gavage during gestation. At birt h, offspring of both groups were assessed for visible adverse vascular effects. Fluoxetine HCl-exposed offspring showed a statistically high er frequency of skin hematomas when compared to water controls. This r esult is consistent with known adverse effects of fluoxetine and lends support to a recently published report that attempted to link fluoxet ine HCI use to bleeding episodes in eight patients being treated for o bsessive-compulsive disorder. The results of this study suggest cautio n in the prolonged use of this medication during pregnancy and in pati ents with predisposing conditions that may increase the chances of ble eding.