We have really enjoyed our weekly virtual rounds. It’s been a great opportunity to meet other perinatal psychiatrists in the community, and discussions with new people always brings up interesting clinical questions. Last week [...]
Smoking is relatively common during pregnancy, with about 10% of all women smoking at some point during their pregnancy. The rates are even higher among women with psychiatric illness. While many women may be [...]
Each year in the United States, the menopause transition is experienced by 1.5 million women. With this change in the hormonal milieu comes troublesome symptoms, including vasomotor symptoms, decreased libido, insomnia, changes in mood, fatigue, [...]
In our community of perinatal psychiatrists, we have recently seen many questions regarding the use of folic acid supplementation in women taking lamotrigine (Lamictal). While all recognize that all women of childbearing age should receive [...]
St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) is an herbal preparation which has been shown, in some studies, to be effective for the treatment of mild to moderate depressive symptoms. St. John’s wort is now one of [...]
One of our readers contacted us noting that she developed a severe episode of postpartum depression after receiving an injection of the contraceptive, Depo-Provera. She is pregnant again and now wonders if she should avoid [...]
We get many questions about the interaction between lamotrigine (Lamictal) and oral contraceptives (OCs). While many readers raise concerns that lamotrigine may decrease the effectiveness of oral contraceptives, the primary interaction is actually in [...]
Many women have concerns about the side effects of oral contraceptives (birth control pills). Potential side effects include bloating, breast tenderness, and weight gain. In addition, some women may experience depression or mood swings, side [...]
Many women experience some degree of sleep disturbance during pregnancy. For a significant number of women, the sleep disruption may be so severe as to require some type of intervention. In a previous post, we discussed the use of different types of medications to treat insomnia during pregnancy. While these drugs are highly effective, many women with sleep problems inquire about the use of “natural” agents, such as melatonin, during pregnancy.
For many women with bipolar disorder, lamotrigine (Lamictal) is an effective mood stabilizer. Given its relatively favorable reproductive safety profile, lamotrigine is a reasonable option for women who require treatment with a mood stabilizer during pregnancy.
