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Maternal (Expert Forum)
Pregnancy and anti-depressants
Patient medical question and answer from The Maternal and Child Health Forum. Health topic area and articles about newborn care
Pregnancy and anti-depressants
by Heather__0, Oct 08, 1998 12:00AM
I have been on anti-depressants for 2 years, 1.5 years on Prozac and .5 years on Effexor. I want to get pregnant but do not necessarily want to go off of my medication. One of my doctors said it is ok to be on the medication and the other did not necessarily recommend it. What is the opinion of the medical community on this topic? Are there any studies on this topic that I can read to become more informed?
Dear Heather:
Most medications carry that caution that we do not have scientific data to show safety in pregnancy. Prozac falls into this category: the tests done in animals have not shown any problems and there are no studies in people. The experience with Prozac from women who have been on the medication during pregnancy is reassuring: no reports of adverse effects on mother or baby.
Effexor has been tested in laboratory animals and has caused some problems. There are no studies in people. This is a less reassuring durg label.
The other issue is the underlying problem that has prompted treatment. A discussion with your treating physician regarding your pregnancy goals is important. This provider can then support your decision, including switching or stopping medications.
This information is provided for general education purposes only and is not a medical consultation.
Keywords: drugs, pregnancy
