Open AccessSSRI use in pregnancy: Evaluating the risks and benefits
Author(s) -
Elsa du Toit,
Eileen Thomas,
Liezl Koen,
Bavanisha Vythilingum,
Stoffel Grobler,
Nadine Barrie Smith,
Daiehaus
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
south african journal of psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.425
H-Index - 13
eISSN - 2078-6786
pISSN - 1608-9685
DOI - 10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v21i2.587
Subject(s) - pregnancy , medicine , antidepressant , depression (economics) , serotonin reuptake inhibitor , medical prescription , psychiatry , intensive care medicine , pharmacology , anxiety , genetics , macroeconomics , economics , biology
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants are considered the primary pharmacological treatment for moderate to severe depression during pregnancy. Data regarding the safety of their use during pregnancy remain controversial and conflicting. Decisions regarding the prescription of antidepressant treatment are often fraught with concern around potential harmful medication effects on the pregnancy, fetus and infant. Information on potential risks remains extremely varied and inconsistent across sources. This lack of clarity regarding drug safety brings significant uncertainty not only for treating physicians, but also for women seeking information about depression during pregnancy. This review aims to summarise and evaluate the current evidence base and to aid clinicians in performing a risk/benefit analysis for SSRI use during pregnancy and lactation