Anxiety meds to take as needed
This syndrome usually lasts only a few days to a week. One consequence of SSRI use during the third trimester of pregnancy, which has been confirmed in many studies, is a neonatal syndrome that may include irritability, poor feeding, sleep disturbance, and other symptoms.
It also strongly advises women to talk with their health care providers if they are undergoing treatment for depression to determine the most appropriate treatment option during pregnancy. The FDA issues warnings to alert women of potential and new risks. Taking SSRIs may pose an increased risk of birth defects. Use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, in the third trimester, however, has been associated with an increased risk for pulmonary hypertension in newborns, a rare disorder in which blood flow through the lungs is restricted But some studies indicate that this risk is still less than 1% if a mother uses SSRIs during the third trimester. Studies have shown that antidepressant use is associated with preterm delivery, but a 2009 report from the American Psychiatric Association and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists advised that additional work is needed to determine whether taking antidepressants or other associated factors such as depressed mood, maternal obesity, or socioeconomic stress are more direct causes of preterm birth. (The CDC is working to improve the health of women and babies through Treating for Two: Safer Medication Use in Pregnancy.) And some similar drugs used to treat depression in pregnant women carry no such risks. Even with the increased risks for certain birth defects, the actual risk remains very low. Just as particular nutrients are passed to the fetus when food is eaten, so does some medication transfer from mother to unborn child.Ī 2015 Centers for Disease Control (CDC) study found that some birth defects occur about two or three times more frequently in babies born to women who took the SSRI medications Paxil and Prozac early in pregnancy. You may also consider a consultation with a psychiatrist who specializes in treating pregnant and postpartum women.Īny treatment plan has risks and benefits, and for pregnant women, the risks are of particular concern. If you are pregnant or planning to start a family, it’s best to discuss these options and any concerns with your therapist, physician, and OB-GYN, who can work with you to develop or change your treatment plan. Read on for an overview of what is known about treatment of anxiety and depression for pregnant women. The effectiveness and safety of treating these symptoms can also vary, and studies looking at these issues in pregnant women with mental health disorders are limited. 52% percent of women who have been pregnant reported increased anxiety or depression while pregnant.
This is consistent with a 2009 ADAA online poll: Women can have an anxiety disorder and depression at the same time, too. In fact, symptoms can develop or worsen during or after pregnancy, though in some cases women notice fewer symptoms while pregnant.
Pregnant women with a history of anxiety or depression can face difficult and confusing choices about treating their symptoms with antidepressants and other medications.īoth anxiety disorders and depression are more likely to affect women than men, and women who are pregnant are not excluded.
Types of Mental Health Care Professionals.