Essential Reads: Duloxetine and Pregnancy (2021)
In this large study with over 1500 exposures, duloxetine exposure during the first trimester does not appear to increase risk of major malformations.
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 [...]
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 [...]
Study Supporting the Reproductive Safety of Gabapentin During Pregnancy
Gabapentin (Neurontin) is now used in a wide variety of clinical settings — for the treatment of epilepsy, pain management, restless leg syndrome, anxiety, and sleep disturbance. However, there is relatively little information regarding [...]
Clinical Update 2020: New Data on Duloxetine and Pregnancy
A few weeks ago, we published a clinical update for duloxetine (Cymbalta) and pregnancy, stating that there was little new to report since we last covered the topic in 2015. It is somewhat amusing [...]
Clinical Update 2020: Duloxetine and Pregnancy
Women face difficult choices when deciding whether or not to continue psychiatric medications during pregnancy. For many years, we have typically recommended the older antidepressants, including the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs such [...]
Preliminary Data Raises Concerns About Modafinil Use in Pregnancy
Modafinil (brand name Provigil) is a wake-promoting agent which is used to treat sleepiness due to narcolepsy, shift work sleep disorder, or obstructive sleep apnea. It is also used to in others settings, often [...]
Interpreting New Data on the Use of Benzodiazepines During Pregnancy
Data regarding the reproductive safety of benzodiazepines has always been somewhat difficult to understand. While earlier studies suggested an association between prenatal exposure to benzodiazepines and increased risk of cleft lip and palate, more recent [...]
Higher Doses of Topiramate (Topamax) During Pregnancy, Increased Risk of Oral Clefts
Topiramate (TPM, marketed as Topamax) is an antiepileptic drug which is also used for migraine prophylaxis, weight loss, and, less commonly, as a mood stabilizer. Â Over the last few years we have seen several studies [...]
USPSTF Emphasizes Periconceptual Use of Folic Acid to Prevent Birth Defects
Neural tube defects are among the most common major congenital anomalies in the United States and are associated with significant disability and death. Â The risk of neural tube defects can be prevented with daily folic [...]