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Antidepressants and Pregnancy
Researchers estimate that in the United States alone, at least 80,000 pregnant women take antidepressants each year. If you are among that number, you might well be concerned about your baby's safety. The research is still out on the effects of antidepressants and pregnancy.
In the spring of 2004, the Food and Drug Administration recommended that the labels on SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, which include Prozac, Paxil and Zoloft) include a warning about the possible neonatal effects of the drugs. Yet there is still uncertainty around antidepressants and pregnancy. A 2003 study found that babies of women who took SSRIs while pregnant had no more birth defects than non-depressed women, but a 2005 study warned doctors against prescribing the medications.
What effects have been associated with antidepressants? Irritability, tremors, and seizures are most often mentioned when examining antidepressants and pregnancy. One study found that the babies of women who took antidepressants in the third trimester were three times more likely to have these symptoms than other babies. This could be due to the infants experiencing withdrawal from the drugs which were delivered through the placenta. Or the symptoms might be a result of the toxicity of the drugs, which are not easily purged by a baby's undeveloped systems. However, these symptoms usually disappeared within a few weeks. Long-term impacts are still unknown.
But the impact on the mother must also be considered when discussing antidepressants and pregnancy. Being depressed is not healthy for either mother or child. Many women require antidepressants to have any quality of life. And in fact, maternal depression can lead to a baby who is depressed, who is born premature, or who has a low birth weight. In addition, depression in pregnancy is the most reliable predictor for post-partum depression.
With definitive answers on antidepressants and pregnancy still scarce, you might want to consider treatment options. Some women (with their practitioner's guidance) will reduce their dosage or wean themselves off medication, particularly in the last trimester. Some are able to substitute psychotherapy or light therapy for at least part of the pregnancy.
The one certainty is that you should discuss the topic of antidepressants and pregnancy carefully with your medical practitioner in order to make the best decision for both you and your baby.
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