Dr. Summer skillasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied that the anti-depressant drug imipramine cannot cause congenital abnormalities; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir K. JosephIn the present state of medical knowledge it is not possible to be completely satisfied that any medicine taken during pregnancy cannot cause congenital deformities. Since imipramine was first marketed in the United Kingdom in 1959 it has been extensively prescribed here without evidence of harmful effects on the foetus. Information from other countries is also reassuring and I understand that the special warning recently28W issued in Australia has now been withdrawn as a result of corrected information.