Its also important to know that not taking medication when its necessary can have. An important tool in fighting depression during pregnancy, antidepressants can help an expectant mother without hurting her unborn baby. Acog guidelines on psychiatric medication use during. And, finally, if a causal link were robustly established, and if no pregnant women took antidepressants during pregnancy, only 2% of autism cases in this population would be prevented. Can i take antidepressants while pregnant or breastfeeding. Antidepressant use during pregnancy the college of family. Certain selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors ssris. The use of antidepressants was allocated into any use exposure at any time during or 1 month before the pregnancy, late use drugs dispensed during the last 90 days of the pregnancy with or without early use, and early use only exposure 1 month before and during pregnancy but not during the last 90 days of the pregnancy. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors ssris are the most frequently used antidepressants in pregnant women, with an estimated 23% of women in europe and 410% in north america receiving such drugs during pregnancy 38.
Pharmaceutical companies may have additional data about the effects of antidepressants on pregnancy and lactation. Research has shown that up to 33 percent of women experience clinical anxiety or depression at some point during pregnancy. Yet some studies indicate that fewer than 20 percent seek treatment, and. Antidepressant use during pregnancy and the risk of major. Benefits can outweigh risks for pregnant women on anxiety drugs or ssris. Deciding to continue or stop using antidepressants during pregnancy is one of the hardest decisions a woman must make. May 31, 2017 maternal antidepressants are implicated in adhd, but so is maternal depression the safety of antidepressants in pregnancy is controversial, partly because of profound methodological difficulties in separating the fetal effects of antidepressants from those related to maternal depression confounding by indication.
Like all medications, antidepressants should be used with caution during pregnancy. Secondly, despite the observed relative risks, over 95% of women who took antidepressants during pregnancy did not have a child with autism. Use of ssri and snri antidepressants during pregnancy. We included six randomized controlled trials and two observational studies of antidepressant treatment for depression in postpartum women. Depression and antidepressant medications during pregnancy. Open access research antidepressant use during pregnancy. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors during pregnancy and risk of stillbirth and infant mortality. Shots health news is it ok to take antidepressants or anxiety medicine during pregnancy. Talk to your healthcare provider about the benefits and risks to you and the baby from taking antidepressants.
Ssris or tricyclic antidepressants tcas during pregnancy. Antidepressants in pregnancy and breastfeeding australian. The theoretically maximum harm could be one additional malformation per 9000 pregnant women taking antidepressants. The report provided the following recommendations for different clinical scenarios. The good news is you can treat depression during pregnancy. Conclusion the risks of the depression and its consequences must be weighed against the risks of the medications to both mother and infant during the different phases of pregnancy and lactation.
Depression during and after pregnancy is common and treatable. Potential complications include maternal weight changes and premature birth. Journal depressionintheantenatalandpostantalperiods2010nz. May 15, 2019 depression during and after pregnancy is common and treatable. The use of antidepressants during pregnancy is common. Only you and your healthcare providers can decide what is best for your situation. You and your healthcare providers will need to weigh the risks and benefits of any medications youre on or may try. The use of antidepressants during pregnancy has been linked to various negative outcomes including. Delivery outcome after the use of antidepressants in early pregnancy. Common medications safe in pregnancy clindamycin acne. Ssris are generally considered an option during pregnancy, including citalopram celexa and sertraline zoloft. Adverse effects of antidepressants during pregnancy.
Additionally, cdc research shows that about 1 in 9 women experience symptoms of postpartum depression. Medication for depression during pregnancy babycenter. Antidepressants during pregnancy risks for mother and child. Maternal antidepressants are implicated in adhd, but so is maternal depression the safety of antidepressants in pregnancy is controversial, partly because of profound methodological difficulties in separating the fetal effects of antidepressants from those related to maternal depression confounding by indication. Antidepressant treatment of depression during pregnancy and. Tricyclic antidepressants are likely to be less risky than ssris in the early months of pregnancy. Some people may stay on antidepressants if there is a history of severe andor recurrent depression, a history of mental illness. Restarting the antidepressant medication lowered the chance of a relapse, but it did not completely prevent the relapse in all cases. Paroxetine paxil should be avoided by pregnant women and women who plan to become pregnant, and fetal echocardiography should be considered for women exposed to paroxetine during early pregnancy. Depression is common in women of childbearing age, and in europe 38% of pregnant women are prescribed antidepressants during pregnancy.
Antidepressant treatment of depression during pregnancy. Almost all pregnant women face decisions about whether or not it is safe to take a medication during pregnancy. A national strategy for safer medication use in pregnancy medication use during pregnancy is common and increasing. This is even more important given that the effectiveness of antidepressants during pregnancy for the treatment of the majority of cases of depression mild to moderate depression have been shown to be marginal. If you feel you need to take antidepressants while pregnant or breastfeeding, you should discuss this with your doctor. Then, use our new cme lifelong learning site to get instant credit. Ssri antidepressant use during pregnancy and reports of a. Sep 15, 2008 the american college of obstetricians and gynecologists acog has released guidelines on psychiatric medication used by women during pregnancy and lactation.
Women who take antidepressants, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors ssris, during pregnancy may worry about whether the medications can cause birth defects. The use of antidepressants during pregnancy increases the risk of your child being diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder later in life, a study of. The biggest concern is typically the risk of birth defects from exposure to antidepressants. Because abrupt discontinuation of this drug is associated with withdrawal symptoms and a high rate of relapse. Antidepressant treatment of depression during pregnancy and the. Pregnancy is supposed to be one of the happiest times of a womans life, but for many women, this is a time of confusion, fear, stress, and even depression.
Depression is estimated to occur in 715% of pregnancies in economically developed countries 1, 2. Jan 08, 2020 unstable depression during pregnancy also increases the risk of postpartum depression and difficulty bonding with your baby. Limb deformities and developmental delay have been reported in infants whose mothers had taken this drug during pregnancy. Studies of depressed pregnant women primarily compared antidepressant. Antidepressants in pregnancy mind, the mental health. Sep 24, 2018 the good news is you can treat depression during pregnancy. Depression affects up to 7% to % of pregnant women. No doctor can say with 100percent confidence that the drugs are completely safe. According to a new analysis by cdc external icon, the rate of pregnant women with a depression diagnosis at delivery increased by seven times from 2000 to 2015. Up to 25% of pregnant women will suffer from depression while pregnant. Mar 24, 2020 is it safe to take medication for depression during pregnancy.
Antidepressants and pregnancy by arline kaplan april 10, 20 the extent to which antidepressant use during pregnancy is associated with increased risks of postnatal adaptation syndrome pnas, persistent pulmonary hypertension in the newborn pphn, firsttrimester teratogenicity, stillbirth, and infant mortality is explored in 2 recent. How to cope with anxiety and depression during pregnancy. Exceptions can be made when the risks posed by depression outweigh the risks of medication treatment during pregnancy. As with treatment during pregnancy, treatment during lactation should be based on risks and benefits for both the mother and infant. Open access research antidepressant use during pregnancy of. A relapse of depression during pregnancy could increase the risk of pregnancy complications. Depression is common during pregnancy,1 and the use of antidepressants during gestation has increased at a steady rate over the past 20 years. Food and drug administration fda is updating the public on the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor ssri antidepressants by women during pregnancy and the. One central concern is the potential impact of these drugs on fetal brain.
The question of taking antidepressants during pregnancy is a highly debated topic. Should i stop taking medication for depression during my pregnancy. Jul 26, 2016 methods this paper summarizes current state of knowledge on the safety of antidepressants during pregnancy by providing a summary of the literature published in the past 3 years january 20october 2015. To earn category 1 credit, read the article, using antidepressants during pregnancy. Multiple recent studies have focused on the potential fetal risks of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors ssris and selective norepinephrine. Depression is a common condition in women, with prevalence peaking during childbearing years. Generally, antidepressants are not recommended for use during pregnancy. While some momstobe are nervous about staying on antidepressants during pregnancy, the research has shown that the risks of birth defects from antidepressant use. Generally, these antidepressants are an option during pregnancy. Osborne says that there is generally no need to taper off medications during pregnancy. Pregnancy is supposed to be one of the happiest times of a womans life, but for many women, this is a.
Recognize when to use antidepressants during pregnancy. Antidepressant use during pregnancy and asthma in the. The safety of antidepressants in pregnancy the bmj. Antidepressant use during pregnancy the college of. The use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders dsmiv. In a series of eight pregnant women, the authors found that the doses of tricyclic antidepressants required to achieve remission of symptoms and adequate serum levels increased during the second. Antidepressant use during pregnancy and psychiatric. Use of antidepressants during pregnancy and lactation. Most doctors suggest starting with nondrug approaches including psychotherapy talk therapy, light therapy exposure to highintensity lamps that increase levels of the moodregulating hormone serotonin in the brain, acupuncture and meditation.
Is it safe to take medication for depression during pregnancy. A decision to use antidepressants during pregnancy, in addition to counseling, is based on the balance between risks and benefits. One study, published in the journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, found that for women who use antidepressants during pregnancy, it may take longer to be able to breastfeed. Methods this paper summarizes current state of knowledge on the safety of antidepressants during pregnancy by providing a summary of the literature published in the past 3 years january 20october 2015. Animal studies have revealed evidence of reduced pregnancy rates, interference of central monoamine transmission, and ossification delays. However, antidepressants may interfere with fetal growth so there is an ongoing debate about whether or not antidepressants should be used during pregnancy. Antidepressants during pregnancy and autism in offspring.