Pharmacist Questions Antidepressants

Are there any approved anti-depressants for pregnant women?

I'm 30 years old, and I recently was put on an antidepressant (Lexapro). The pharmacist said that it would not be safe if I was pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Are there any approved anti-depressants for pregnant women?

5 Answers

The anti depressants most used during pregnancy are the SSRI's and seems to have a better safety profile. Most of these medications are either labelled categiry B or C and you and your doc must consider its risk as well as benefit for your pregnancy
There are no antidepressants that are 100% safe in pregnant women. However, Lexapro is an SSRI (class of antidepressants) and it’s one of the safe medications in that class. In addition, out of all the different classes of antidepressants, SSRI’s are the most commonly used in pregnant women. Speak with your OBGYN with any further questions.
I would speak with your doctor about this. Most anti-depressants have a category C for pregnancy, meaning in animals they may have caused harm, but harm has not been studied or confirmed in humans. Depression can be a very serious diagnosis and in the end, your doctor will be able to weigh the risk versus benefit for use of anti-depressants. Their are many pregnant women who have tried therapy alone while pregnant and it may not be enough. I would just make sure that your doctor is aware if you are trying to get pregnant or are currently pregnant so they can gauge the severity of your depression and determine the risk vs benefit.
Hello.
First off, great question. Second, do not listen to your pharmacist, please talk to you Ob/Gyn about this. If a patient needs to be on an anti-depressant and gets pregnant while on one, I usually do not stop it during pregnancy. Lexapro is quite safe during pregnancy, as is Zoloft. The one medication I would strictly avoid is Paxil, as we now know of its teratogenicity during pregnancy. Most anti-depressants are SSRIs (selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors) and these are category C and considered safe after weighing the risks and benefits. I would certainly talk to your OB/Gyn and your psychiatrist about this decision (not your pharmacist). Good luck and start your prenatal vitamins!
NO medications are totally safe in early pregnancy, especially in the first 15 weeks. So, while on medications, you should closely monitor yourself for signs and symptoms of pregnancy and take pregnancy tests frequently if any suspicions.

Rob Muller