Making Sense Out of the Controversy: Use of SSRIs in Pregnancy

AbstractPerinatal depression complicates up to 20  % of all pregnancies. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) drugs have become the first-line treatment of depressive symptoms during pregnancy. About 7.5 % of all pregnancies are currently exposed to psychotropic medications. Recent studies suggest the SSRI medications may have some detri mental effects in pregnancy, including a possible increased risk of miscarriage, preterm delivery, clubfoot, heart defects, brain and craniofacial abnormalities, persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn, neonatal seizures, low neonatal Apgar score, as well as neurodevelopmental and behaviora l changes. Patients and healthcare providers should take into consideration all the possible known negative effects of untreated depression during pregnancy, but also the possible fetal risks associated with the use of SSRIs.
Source: Current Obstetrics and Gynecology Reports - Category: OBGYN Source Type: research