Risk-benefit balance assessment of SSRI antidepressant use during pregnancy and lactation based on best available evidence - an update.

Risk-benefit balance assessment of SSRI antidepressant use during pregnancy and lactation based on best available evidence - an update. Expert Opin Drug Saf. 2019 Aug 20;: Authors: Fischer Fumeaux CJ, Morisod Harari M, Weisskopf E, Eap CB, Epiney M, Vial Y, Csajka C, Bickle Graz M, Panchaud A Abstract Introduction: Depression affects 300 million individuals worldwide. While selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) are one of the first-line pharmacological treatments of major depression in the general population, there is still uncertainty regarding their potential benefits and risks during pregnancy. Areas covered: Outcomes requisite for a proper risk/benefit assessment of SSRI in pregnancy and lactation were considered: (a) potential risks associated with untreated depression, (b) effectiveness of different treatment options of depression, (c) potential risks associated with SSRI. Expert opinion: Despite the growing amount of literature on SSRI use during pregnancy, no new trials assessing the benefits of SSRIs on maternal depression were found. In the light of new data regarding the potential risks, depressed SSRI-treated pregnant women and their children seem at increased risk for several complications (mostly of small absolute risk). The interpretation of these findings remains quite similar to our previous review as the available methodogy doesn't allow to disentangle the potential effect of SSRIs from those of the disease...
Source: Expert Opinion on Drug Safety - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Expert Opin Drug Saf Source Type: research