Should Pregnant Women Take Antidepressants?

Posted on August 24, 2009 in Health & Medicine, Opinion, Recent Studies, Women's Health

Women who become pregnant while taking antidepressants now have a set of guidelines to determine whether they should continue taking medication. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Psychiatric Association issued a joint report that spells out risks and benefits.

The panel recommended that women who have mild or no symptoms of depression and are thinking of getting pregnant gradually reduce antidepressant dosages. However, women who are already expecting should not go off medication if they suffer from severe depression. Those who are psychiatrically stable should consult their doctor or ob-gyn if they plan to remain on antidepressants during pregnancy. The panel also said that women who go off medication may want to consider psychotherapy.

A recent study linked the antidepressant Paxil with an increased risk for congenital heart defects in babies born to women who took the drug. Although evidence was inconclusive, the FDA issued an early advisory in 2005 based on the research. Other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants (SSRIs) have been connected to low birth weight, preterm delivery and miscarriage.

The panel concluded that more research was needed to determine the effects of antidepressants on pregnant women. “Antidepressant use in pregnancy is well studied, but available research has not yet adequately controlled for other factors that may influence birth outcomes including maternal illness or behaviors that can adversely affect pregnancy,” the report stated.