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NetWellness provides the highest quality health information and education services created and evaluated by faculty of our partner universities.
Friday, February 10, 2012
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NetWellness provides the highest quality health information and education services created and evaluated by faculty of our partner universities.
Friday, February 10, 2012
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Pregnancy |
Anti-depressants and pregnancy11/05/2008 |
I am on 25mg of sertralineand I think I may be pregnant. Will this medication harm my unborn child?
A similar question has been answered previously, which I am reproducing below:
Taking antidepressants in pregnancy is a complicated issue. Some women experience depression and anxiety to the point that, without medication, they are unable to properly care for themselves or their children. Severe depression in pregnancy may be associated with poor nutrition, poor fetal growth and postpartum problems like increased depression and poor infant bonding. Suicidal thoughts are also an important reason for medical therapy.
On the other hand, if depressive symptoms can be improved with counseling alone (interpersonal or cognitive/behavioral therapy), it may be preferable to taking medication. Although medications in the class containing sertraline are generally safe in pregnancy, there may be a small but increased risk of a rare heart condition in babies born to women who took them throughout pregnancy, and babies may show symptoms after birth of a temporary withdrawal syndrome.
You will need to speak with your doctor to determine whether the benefits of the sertraline outweigh the risks in your particular case.
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Jonathan A Schaffir, MD Assistant Professor Division of General Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology College of Medicine The Ohio State University |
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