Can I take antidepressant medication if I am pregnant?
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Dr. Mehmet Oz answered:I know that many moms-to-be like to avoid medications altogether for fear of dousing their babies with pharmaceuticals. While there's been conflicting data on antidepressant medications and adverse effects, it does appear that a class of antidepressants called SSRIs have fewer side effects than the disease itself. In fact, most human studies show that SSRIs have not led to an increase in birth defects.
Most experts believe that the SSRIs need to be taken with a side dose of professional therapy to be most effective. And remember that when medications are "medically necessary," avoiding them only prolongs the agony. Ultimately effects on pregnancy seem to be the same for those who treat depression with medication and those who don't. There's no reason to suffer when you don't have to.
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I know that many moms-to-be like to avoid medications altogether for fear of dousing their babies with pharmaceuticals. While there's been conflicting data on antidepressant medications and adverse effects, it does appear that a class of... More -
Riverside Women's Health answered:The decision whether or not to stay on medications is a complicated one that should be discussed with your doctor. Medication taken during pregnancy does reach the fetus. In rare cases, some antidepressants have been associated with breathing and heart problems in newborns, as well as jitteriness after delivery. However, moms who stop medications can be at increased risk for a relapse of their depression. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking antidepressants during pregnancy. Your doctor can help you decide what is best for you and your baby.
This answer is based on source information from the National Women's Health Information Center.
The decision whether or not to stay on medications is a complicated one that should be discussed with your doctor. Medication taken during pregnancy does reach the fetus. In rare cases, some antidepressants have been associated with breathing and... More -
Dr. Audrey Jiricko of Intermountain Healthcare answered:One in four women will suffer from depression at some point in their life, so it is a condition that I commonly see, and I feel comfortable treating it and making the patient aware of symptoms and signs while pregnant. Some patients haven't had any symptoms for six months to a year and can be weaned off their depression medication. Patients with severe depression -- I don't want them to just stop their medication when they become pregnant, without consulting a physician. In some cases it is better if they do continue.
Studies show that people with major depression, when they're taken off their medication, have a 50% chance of a relapse of major depression. I watch for those symptoms closely during pregnancy.One in four women will suffer from depression at some point in their life, so it is a condition that I commonly see, and I feel comfortable treating it and making the patient aware of symptoms and signs while pregnant. Some patients haven't... More
