Pregnancy & Medications - MGH Center for Women's Mental Health

Atypical Antipsychotic Medications: What Do We Know About Their Reproductive Safety?

Atypical antipsychotic medications are commonly used for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Despite the increasing use of these medications in women of child-bearing age, there is still relatively little data regarding the reproductive safety and long-term neurodevelopmental effects of these medications. A recent study assessed the development of 76 infants with fetal exposure to atypical antipsychotics.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-06T10:39:32-04:00May 15th, 2013|Antipsychotic Medications, Outcomes, Pregnancy & Medications, Risk of Malformations|Comments Off

SSRI Exposure During Pregnancy Does Not Appear to Affect Infant Growth

Some studies have shown an association between in utero exposure to antidepressants and various pregnancy outcomes, including preterm delivery, low birth weight, and lower Apgar scores; however, these outcomes have also been observed in infants born to depressed mothers who are not taking medication. Thus, it has been difficult to determine if there is a causal relationship between antidepressant exposure and these negative pregnancy outcomes or if untreated maternal depression is itself responsible for these negative outcomes.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-06T11:14:10-04:00April 18th, 2013|Antidepressants, Outcomes, Pregnancy & Medications, Pregnancy Outcomes|Comments Off

Gabapentin (Neurontin) and Pregnancy

Despite the fact that gabapentin (Neurontin) is now used in a wide variety of clinical settings -- for epilepsy, pain management, anxiety, sleep disturbance – there is relatively little information regarding its reproductive safety. A prospective study from researchers at the Motherisk program reports on the outcomes of 223 pregnancies exposed to gabapentin and 223 unexposed pregnancies.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-06T11:47:38-04:00April 15th, 2013|Anti-Epileptic Drugs, Outcomes, Pregnancy & Medications, Risk of Malformations|Comments Off

FDA Announces Approval of a New (Old) Medication for Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy

The combination of doxylamine succinate and pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), to be marketed as Diclegis, has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. A similar combination was previously sold under the name Bendectin but was pulled from the market in 1983 because there were concerns regarding its reproductive safety. (Bendectin originally contained dicyclomine which was later removed due to lack of efficacy.)

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-06T11:49:48-04:00April 11th, 2013|Pregnancy & Medications|Comments Off

L-Methylfolate for the Treatment of Depression: Can We Use it During Pregnancy?

Last summer, we posted a blog about using folate to treat (and perhaps prevent) depression in women of childbearing age. Supporting that recommendation are the several reports indicating that people with lower folate levels are at higher risk of major depression or may experience more severe depressive symptoms. Other studies have indicated that in folate-deficient patients, antidepressants may be less effective or may take longer to take effect.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2018-06-15T10:45:27-04:00March 25th, 2013|Outcomes, Pregnancy & Medications|Comments Off

Exposure to Valproic Acid and Increased Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorders

There have long been concerns regarding the use of the anticonvulsant valproate (Depakote, VPA) during pregnancy. First trimester use of valproate has been associated with a 3-5% risk of neural tube defects, as well as an increased risk of other malformations affecting the heart and other organ systems. Multiple reports have also indicated that in utero exposure to valproate may also negatively affect cognitive development.

By Ruta Nonacs, MD PhD|2025-06-26T09:08:14-04:00March 4th, 2013|Anti-Epileptic Drugs, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Mood Stabilizers, Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Outcomes, Pregnancy & Medications|Comments Off

Antidepressants and Pregnancy: A Meta-Analysis Puts the Risks into a Larger Context

While some studies have shown an association between in utero exposure to antidepressants and various pregnancy outcomes, including preterm delivery, low birth weight, and lower Apgar scores, these outcomes have also been linked to untreated maternal depression. Thus, it has been difficult to determine if there is a causal relationship between antidepressant exposure and negative pregnancy outcomes or whether maternal depression is itself responsible for these negative outcomes.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-06T13:22:16-04:00March 1st, 2013|Antidepressants, Outcomes, Pregnancy & Medications, Pregnancy Outcomes|Comments Off

What’s Worse for Pregnancy: Bipolar Disorder or the Medications Used to Treat It?

In studies of pregnant women with unipolar depression, it has been shown that untreated psychiatric illness in the mother may have a negative impact on pregnancy outcomes, influencing the length of gestation and birthweight. There is far less data on pregnancy outcomes in women with bipolar disorder. A recent Swedish study analyzes pregnancy outcomes in treated and untreated women with bipolar disorder and attempts to distinguish between the effects of medication versus the effects of untreated psychiatric illness in the mother.

By Ruta Nonacs, MD PhD|2024-03-24T11:55:47-04:00February 5th, 2013|Bipolar Disorder, Mood Stabilizers, Outcomes, Pregnancy & Medications, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy|Comments Off

No Increase in Risk of Infant Mortality in Women Taking SSRIs During Pregnancy

While there has been a great deal of attention paid to the risks of exposure to antidepressants, particularly the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), during pregnancy, there has been comparatively little information on the risk of stillbirth and infant mortality in this population. In a recent population-based cohort study utilizing data from all Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden), researchers assessed the risk of stillbirth and infant mortality associated with the use of SSRIs during pregnancy.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2015-08-06T13:48:29-04:00January 9th, 2013|Anti-Epileptic Drugs, Neonatal Symptoms, Outcomes, Pregnancy & Medications, Pregnancy Outcomes|Comments Off

Dr. Lee Cohen in Ob-Gyn News: Using SSRIs in Pregnancy

Over the last decade, attention in the medical literature has gathered logarithmically to focus on potentially efficacious treatments for perinatal depression. Studies of relevant databases, editorials, and various reviews have addressed the reproductive safety concerns of antidepressant treatments, particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) on one hand, and the impact of untreated maternal psychiatric illness on fetal and maternal well-being on the other.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2024-03-31T10:40:13-04:00December 13th, 2012|Antidepressants, ObGyn News, Outcomes, Pregnancy & Medications|Comments Off