Psychotropic drugs in pregnancy and lactation

• Published in: International journal of psychiatry in medicine Vol. 24; no. 2; p. 129
• Main Author: Goldberg, H L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-01-1994
• Subjects: Clozapine - therapeutic use; Embryonic and Fetal Development - drug effects; Female; Fluoxetine - therapeutic use; Humans; Lactation - drug effects; Lithium - therapeutic use; Mental Disorders - drug therapy; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications - drug therapy; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; Psychotropic Drugs - adverse effects; Psychotropic Drugs - therapeutic use; Puerperal Disorders - drug therapy
• ISSN: 0091-2174
• DOI: 10.2190/2BF1-0718-WE7F-A9F7

This article reviews the literature on the use of psychotropic drugs in pregnancy and lactation.
Medline search yielded more than five hundred titles. Articles were reviewed and ninety-one were selected for reference.
Fetal physiology and teratogenicity are discussed and the effects of specific drugs on the fetus and newborn are presented. When possible, recommendations for use or non-use are presented.
Though no controlled studies have ever been done in pregnant women to truly prove their safety, it appears that most, but not all, current psychotropic drugs appear fairly safe for use in pregnancy.