When a woman comes in for a consultation regarding the use of medications during pregnancy, we spend most of our time reviewing the potential risks of exposure to medications during pregnancy. However, we must also [...]
In the world of family planning the question “Which contraceptive method is best for me?” is a common one. The World Health Organization (WHO) has tried to address this through a document called Medical Eligibility [...]
A few days ago, an article was published in the journal Pediatrics on neonatal morbidity observed in children exposed to antidepressants. Although this article is likely to find its way into the headlines, it is [...]
Women with bipolar disorder are at a higher risk for relapse during pregnancy and that the risk is even higher during the postpartum period. In addition, women with bipolar disorder are more vulnerable to postpartum [...]
Several studies have observed that fetal exposure to the antiepileptic drug (AED), valproic acid (Depakote), may significantly increase the risk of having a child with an autism spectrum disorder. In contrast, exposures to other AEDs, [...]
In our community of perinatal psychiatrists, we have recently seen many questions regarding the use of folic acid supplementation in women taking lamotrigine (Lamictal). While all recognize that all women of childbearing age should receive [...]
Pregabalin (marketed in the US as Lyrica) is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of epilepsy, fibromyalgia, and neuropathic pain. It is also used off-label to treat psychiatric disorders, most [...]
The anticonvulsant lamotrigine (Lamictal) is being used with increasing regularity for the treatment of women with bipolar disorder. Back in 2006, we reported on preliminary data indicating an increased risk of oral clefts among infants [...]
Women with bipolar disorder are at significant risk for recurrent illness during the postpartum period. After miscarriage, an event which is associated with both hormonal changes and psychological complexity, is the risk for recurrent illness [...]
![By Vera Kratochvil [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons](https://womensmentalhealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Mother_Kissing_Baby-320x202.jpg)
Yesterday the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) released a final recommendation statement on Screening for Depression in Adults. The Task Force recommends that clinicians screen ALL ADULTS for depression and notes that the evidence [...]
