Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants may affect platelet aggregation and thus may increase the risk of bleeding. Several studies have sought to determine if exposure to SSRI antidepressants in late pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of postpartum hemorrhage.
Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are frequently combined with benzodiazepines for the management of anxiety disorders or major depression with comorbid anxiety. While we have data regarding the reproductive safety of both the SSRIs and benzodiazepines, we have much less information on outcomes in women taking SSRIs and benzodiazepines together. A previous study (Oberlander 2008) found that neither the use of an SSRI alone nor the use of a benzodiazepine alone increased the risk for congenital malformation; however, in this study, the combined use of the two drugs increased the risk of cardiovascular defect. A recent study reassesses the risk of major malformation in women taking SSRIs combined with benzodiazepines.
