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

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.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2021-10-27T20:42:23-04:00April 15th, 2021|Antidepressants, Essential Reads, Outcomes, Pregnancy & Medications, Risk of Malformations|Comments Off

Essential Reads: Should Lithium Dose Be Reduced Prior to Delivery?

The dosing of lithium presents certain challenges during pregnancy. During pregnancy, there is a physiologic increase in the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), which is a measure of how quickly the kidney clears renally excreted compounds, [...]

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2021-03-30T11:49:50-04:00March 31st, 2021|Essential Reads, Mood Stabilizers, Pregnancy & Medications, Treatment|Comments Off

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 [...]

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2021-03-29T13:17:38-04:00March 30th, 2021|Antipsychotic Medications, Outcomes, Pregnancy & Medications, Research at CWMH, Risk of Malformations|Comments Off

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 [...]

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2021-03-16T09:24:00-04:00March 16th, 2021|Opioids, Outcomes, Perinatal Substance Use, Pregnancy & Medications, Risk of Malformations|Comments Off

Essential Reads: Lithium and Pregnancy

While the use of lithium has been in decline over the last 20 years, lithium continues to be a useful and highly effective mood stabilizer for women with bipolar disorder, especially those with a history [...]

By Ruta Nonacs, MD PhD|2025-06-26T09:07:35-04:00March 3rd, 2021|Essential Reads, Mood Stabilizers, Outcomes, Pregnancy & Medications, Risk of Malformations|Comments Off

Prenatal Exposure to Valproic Acid Linked to Increased Risk for Autism, ADHD

Prenatal exposure to valproate has been associated with an elevated risk (10%) for a broad range of congenital malformations including neural tube defects, as well as adverse neurodevelopmental sequelae, including lower IQ and developmental delays [...]

By Ruta Nonacs, MD PhD|2025-06-26T09:07:37-04:00February 9th, 2021|Anti-Epileptic Drugs, Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Outcomes, Pregnancy & Medications|Comments Off

Essential Reads: More Data on ADHD Medications and Pregnancy

Women with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often discontinue psychostimulant medications during pregnancy, especially if they have milder symptoms. While this approach makes sense in terms of limiting unnecessary exposures in women with what appears to [...]

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2021-01-19T10:49:57-04:00January 20th, 2021|ADHD Medications, Essential Reads, Outcomes, Pregnancy & Medications, Risk of Malformations|Comments Off

Taking a Closer Look at Motor Development in Children with Prenatal Exposure to Antidepressants

While we have data to support the use of antidepressants, including the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and the serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), during pregnancy, most studies have focused on risk of congenital [...]

By Ruta Nonacs, MD PhD|2024-03-25T08:31:46-04:00January 19th, 2021|Antidepressants, Child Outcomes, Outcomes, Pregnancy & Medications|Comments Off

Essential Reads: Mirtazapine (Remeron) and Pregnancy

This is the first installment of a new feature on our website: ESSENTIAL READS This is a kind of shortcut which allows you to find the most relevant reviews and articles in reproductive psychiatry. [...]

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2020-12-01T17:27:59-04:00December 2nd, 2020|Antidepressants, Essential Reads, Outcomes, Pregnancy & Medications, Risk of Malformations|Comments Off

Prenatal Valproic Acid (Depakote) Exposure Increases Risk for Neurodevelopmental Disorders

While we have considerable information regarding the teratogenic risk associated with prenatal exposure to various antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), we have considerably less information on the impact of exposure to AEDs on behavioral outcomes in [...]

By Ruta Nonacs, MD PhD|2025-06-26T09:07:38-04:00November 11th, 2020|Anti-Epileptic Drugs, Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Outcomes, Pregnancy & Medications|Comments Off