The Valproic Acid Warning Clinicians Can’t Ignore: Video from Dr. Marlene Freeman
Dr. Marlene Freeman warns that valproic acid poses severe, well-established reproductive risks and should not be used by anyone who could become pregnant.
Topiramate and Risk of Major Malformations: What Clinicians and Patients Need to Know
Topiramate exposure in early pregnancy is linked to higher rates of major malformations and more specifically to increased risk of oral clefts, with risk rising at higher doses.
Clinical Update 2026: Z-Drugs and Pregnancy
Recent studies find no increase in the risk of major malformations with first-trimester Z-drug exposure, although small increases in risk of preterm birth and low birth weight have been reported.
Isn’t It Time for Stricter Valproic Acid Warnings for Women of Reproductive Age?
Despite FDA warnings, valproate is still prescribed to women of reproductive age, placing children at risk for birth defects and neurodevelopmental disorders.
Yet Another Study: Antidepressants Do Not Increase Risk of Miscarriage
After accounting for maternal depression, there is little evidence of any association between antidepressant use during pregnancy and miscarriage.
Do SSRI Antidepressants Lower Risk of Preeclampsia? Maybe, But It’s Complicated
There is evidence that depression itself can increase risk for preeclampsia. In women with more severe depression, treatment with an SSRI antidepressant may decrease risk.
More Data on Pregnancy Outcomes Associated with Lithium Use During Pregnancy
Lithium use during pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of preterm birth and large for gestational age infants.
COVID-19 and Pregnancy Outcomes: What We Know One Year Later
Over a year ago, we wrote our first post on COVID-19, and it is hard to believe that we are still very much in the midst of a pandemic. Since that time, we have [...]
Pregnancy Outcomes in Women with Bipolar Disorder
In treating pregnant women with mood or anxiety disorders, we tend to focus primarily on the reproductive safety of psychotropic medications; however, it must be recognized that withholding or withdrawing pharmacologic treatment for depression or [...]
Postpartum Hemorrhage in Women Taking Antidepressants During Pregnancy
Serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SRI) antidepressants may affect platelet aggregation and thus may increase the risk of bleeding. Â Several studies have sought to determine if exposure to SSRI antidepressants in late pregnancy is associated with an [...]