Essential Reads: Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal) and Pregnancy
Given limited data on the reproductive safety of oxcarbazepine, we would recommend using alternate medications during pregnancy, when possible.
Prospective Data on the Use of Newer Antipsychotics During Pregnancy: No Increase in Risk of Malformations
The most recent publication from the National Pregnancy Registry focuses on overall risk of malformations associated with the class of antipsychotic medications.
Essential Reads: Obstetric and Perinatal Outcomes among Women with Eating Disorders
Greater attention to eating behaviors and screening eating disorders during pregnancy is the first step in improving outcomes in this population.
Essential Reads: Medications for Smoking Cessation in Breastfeeding Women
Our information on the use of medications for smoking cessation in nursing mothers is limited.
Essential Reads: Topiramate and Pregnancy (2021)
Multiple studies have associated first trimester exposure to topiramate with increased risk of oral clefts.
Cannabis Use is Legal in Many States, But That Doesn’t Mean It’s Safe to Use During Pregnancy
Heavy cannabis use during pregnancy was associated with increased risk for small for gestational age, preterm birth, low birth weight, and death during the first year of life.
Essential Reads: Bupropion (Wellbutrin) and Risk for Major Malformations
Bupropion is commonly used to treat depression, and is also prescribed to support smoking cessation. Early data on bupropion-exposure during pregnancy raised concern for a possible increase in risk of malformations of the heart and large blood vessels in bupropion-exposed infants. Subsequent data from bupropion pregnancy registries has been reassuring, however, and do not demonstrate an overall increase in risk of cardiac defects following first trimester bupropion exposure. Although the overall risk of cardiac defects was not increased, the distribution of specific defects in these registries was unexpected in some ways. For example, the GlaxoSmithKline Bupropion Pregnancy Registry included two cases of coarctation of the aorta out of the 675 bupropion-exposed infants, compared to the rate of 6 cases per 10,000 births in the general population.
Essential Reads: Atypical Antipsychotics and Breastfeeding
Despite the increasing use of the newer “atypical” or second-generation antipsychotic agents to treat a spectrum of psychiatric disorders, we have relatively little data on the use of these newer atypical agents in breastfeeding women.
New Research from the CWMH: No Increase in Major Malformations in Children Prenatally Exposed to Aripiprazole
Despite the increasing use of the newer atypical or second-generation antipsychotic agents to treat a spectrum of psychiatric disorders, including psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder, major depression, PTSD and other anxiety disorders, we have relatively little [...]
Prescription Opioids During Pregnancy and Risk for Major Malformations
Previous studies have suggested a link between opioid exposure during pregnancy and increased risk of certain major malformations, including neural tube defects. A recent study from Bateman and colleagues assesses the risk of major malformation [...]