We have long known that postpartum depression may have negative effects on the child and may contribute to deficits in social development and emotional regulation. Exactly what mediates these effects is not so clear; however, [...]
Last year France banned the use of the antiepileptic during valproate in certain populations of reproductive age women. Now the United Kingdom's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has banned the use of [...]
The use of the newer “atypical” or second-generation antipsychotic (SGA) agents continues to increase. These medications are used to treat a spectrum of psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, PTSD and anxiety disorders. [...]
While some women with bipolar disorder elect to discontinue their psychotropic medications during pregnancy to mitigate fetal exposure, Viguera and colleagues (2000, 2007) found that women stabilized on lithium face a significant risk for [...]
We have an abundance of articles which address the impact of psychotropic medications on pregnancy. Much less research, however, has focused on how pregnancy may affect how these medications work. Physiologic changes take place during [...]
Last week in clinical rounds we discussed a case of a woman with bipolar disorder who was planning a pregnancy. She had a long history of illness, experiencing primarily depressive episodes since her early [...]
Numerous studies have demonstrated that women with histories of bipolar disorder are at high risk for postpartum illness. Because of this increased risk for relapse during the postpartum period, we typically recommend that women with [...]
Maintenance treatment with a mood stabilizer during pregnancy can significantly reduce the risk of relapse in women with bipolar disorder; however, many of the mood stabilizers commonly used in this setting, including lithium and [...]
When we meet women for consultations regarding the use of psychotropic medications during pregnancy, we focus primarily on the impact of medications on the developing fetus and the pregnancy. However, we need also to address [...]
Ms. C is a woman with a long history of bipolar disorder, dating back to her teen years. Because she experienced recurrent hypomania and mania every time she attempted to discontinue her treatment, she and [...]