<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>At present, affective disorders are among the most commonly diagnosed mental diseases. In pregnancy, they can occur as pre-delivery depression, recurrent depressive disorder or postnatal depression. The estimated prevalence of depressive disorders in pregnancy is approximately 9–16%, with some statistics reporting up to 20%. Approximately 2–3% of pregnant women take antidepressants during pregnancy, and the number of mothers treated increases by birth to 5–7%. Treatment of depression during pregnancy and breastfeeding is a controversial issue, as antidepressants can negatively affect the developing fetus. According to epidemiological studies, the effects of treated depression in pregnancy are related to premature birth, decreased body weight of the child, intrauterine growth retardation, neonatal adaptive syndrome, and persistent pulmonary hypertension. However, untreated depression can adversely affect maternal health and increase the risk of preeclampsia and eclampsia, as well as of subsequent postnatal depression, which can lead to disruption of the mother-child relationship. Based on the above mentioned facts, the basic question arises as to whether or not to treat depression during pregnancy and lactation.</p></abstract>

At present, affective disorders are among the most commonly diagnosed mental diseases. In pregnancy, they can occur as pre-delivery depression, recurrent depressive disorder or postnatal depression. The estimated prevalence of depressive disorders in pregnancy is approximately 9–16%, with some statistics reporting up to 20%. Approximately 2–3% of pregnant women take antidepressants during pregnancy, and the number of mothers treated increases by birth to 5–7%. Treatment of depression during pregnancy and breastfeeding is a controversial issue, as antidepressants can negatively affect the developing fetus. According to epidemiological studies, the effects of treated depression in pregnancy are related to premature birth, decreased body weight of the child, intrauterine growth retardation, neonatal adaptive syndrome, and persistent pulmonary hypertension. However, untreated depression can adversely affect maternal health and increase the risk of preeclampsia and eclampsia, as well as of subsequent postnatal depression, which can lead to disruption of the mother-child relationship. Based on the above mentioned facts, the basic question arises as to whether or not to treat depression during pregnancy and lactation.

Risks of using SSRI / SNRI antidepressants during pregnancy and lactation

Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, Slovak Academy of Sciences

Department of Pharmacology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine

Interdisciplinary Toxicology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

{"article-title":"Risks of using SSRI / SNRI antidepressants during pregnancy and lactation"}

At present, affective disorders are among the most commonly diagnosed mental diseases. In pregnancy, they can occur as pre-delivery depression, recurrent...

Risks of using SSRI / SNRI antidepressants during pregnancy and lactation

Published Online: Feb 14, 2018

Page range: 30 - 34

Received: Jan 16, 2017

Accepted: Mar 17, 2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/intox-2017-0004

Keywords
depression, antidepressants, pregnancy, lactation, fetus, brain, behavioral disorders

© 2017 Interdisciplinary Toxicology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Risks of using SSRI / SNRI antidepressants during pregnancy and lactation

Published Online: Feb 14, 2018

Page range: 30 - 34

Received: Jan 16, 2017

Accepted: Mar 17, 2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/intox-2017-0004

Keywordsdepression, antidepressants, pregnancy, lactation, fetus, brain, behavioral disorders

© 2017 Interdisciplinary Toxicology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
depression, antidepressants, pregnancy, lactation, fetus, brain, behavioral disorders