Antidepressant use during pregnancy: the benefit-risk ratio.

Abstract

Antidepressants are used commonly in pregnancy. Physicians who provide health care for pregnant women with depression must balance maternal well-being with potential fetal risks of these medications. Over the last decade, scores of original and review articles have discussed whether selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors-selective serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors possess risks to the fetus; however, very little has been done to integrate these potential risks, if they exist, into an overall context of a benefit:risk ratio. This review aims at presenting an updated analysis of fetal and maternal exposure to selective serotonin or norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors to allow an evidence-based benefit:risk ratio. When a psychiatric condition necessitates pharmacotherapy, the benefits of such therapy far outweigh the potential minimal risks of cardiac malformations, primary pulmonary hypertension of the newborn infant, or poor neonatal adaptation syndrome.

• Authors: Gideon Koren, Hedvig Nordeng
• Journal: American journal of obstetrics and gynecology (Am J Obstet Gynecol) Vol. 207 Issue 3 Pg. 157-63 (Sep 2012) ISSN: 1097-6868 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 22425404 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2012 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Antidepressive Agents

Topics

• Abnormalities, Drug-Induced (etiology)
• Antidepressive Agents (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Depression (drug therapy)
• Female
• Fetal Diseases (chemically induced)
• Humans
• Odds Ratio
• Pregnancy
• Pregnancy Complications (drug therapy)
• Risk Assessment