New Research from the CWMH: Data on the Reproductive Safety of Vortioxetine
New prospective data on 56 first-trimester vortioxetine exposures found no major malformations, offering reassuring but still preliminary reproductive safety information.
Prenatal Cannabis Exposure and Major Malformations: Inconsistent Data, Emerging Red Flags
Evidence linking prenatal cannabis to major malformations is mixed, but signals for rare defects like gastroschisis and omphalocele support caution regarding the use of cannabis in pregnancy.
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.
Essential Reads: Why All Women of Reproductive Age Should Take Folic Acid
Folic Acid Awareness Week (Sept 7–14, 2025) focuses on the importance of daily folic acid supplements for women to prevent birth defects, as diet alone is often insufficient.
Danish Study Indicates No Increase in Risk of Malformations with Prenatal Exposure to Antipsychotic Medications
This register-based cohort study from Denmark of 503,158 clinically recognized pregnancies observed little or no risk of teratogenesis associated with first trimester exposure to antipsychotic medications.
Essential Reads: Modafinil and Armodafinil During Pregnancy Associated with Increased Risk of Malformations
Modafinil (brand name Provigil) and armodafinil (Nuvigil) are wake-promoting agents used to treat sleepiness due to narcolepsy, shift work sleep disorder, or obstructive sleep apnea. They are also used in other settings, often in [...]
New Research from the CWMH: Risk of Major Malformations in Infants with Prenatal Exposure to Benzodiazepines
Data from an ongoing pregnancy registry offers reassurance that benzodiazepines do not appear to have major teratogenic effects.
New Research from the CWMH: No Increase in Major Malformations in Children with Prenatal Exposure to Olanzapine
No major malformations were associated with olanzapine exposure during the first trimester of pregnancy.
Still Not Enough Data on the Reproductive Safety of Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal)
This meta-analysis is reassuring regarding risk for malformations in children exposed prenatally to oxcarbazepine; however, we still need more data to fully assess reproductive safety.