Florence Martin

• BSc (Hons) Pharmacology
• Fetal effects of serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) use in human pregnancy

Medicines which harm a developing baby in the womb are known as teratogens. In the 1960s, the pregnancy anti-sickness drug, thalidomide, caused birth defects in thousands of babies. The UK Teratology Information Service (UKTIS) was established over 30 years ago to advise on medicine use in pregnancy and, over this time, has collected information on how these pregnancies ended. I analyzed information collected by UKTIS on a class of antidepressants known as serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) to assess whether SNRIs are linked to a higher chance of birth defects in the baby upon exposure during the first 13 weeks of pregnancy. The results of the study were considered alongside similar research in order to determine the overall risk to the baby, in the hope of allowing expectant mothers to make more informed decisions in the future.

 Funding source: Newcastle University

 Supervisor: Dr Laura Yates