The available data seem to support the notion that ESC might be considered safe during pregnancy, in particular as far as MMs is concerned. However, similar to other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, it could be associated with an increased risk of PCs. Given the paucity of the studies published so far, no definitive conclusions can be drawn on its safety profile during breastfeeding.
BackgroundThe aim of this paper is to report maternal and neonatal outcomes in pregnant women treated with escitalopram during pregnancy and breastfeeding.MethodsWomen enrolled in the DEGRA Database at the Clinic of Affective Disorders in Pregnancy and Postpartum in Italy, treated during pregnancy with escitalopram and followed up throughout pregnancy, were included in this study. All patients provided written informed consent and the study was approved by the local ethics committee. Psychiatric diagnoses were assessed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - Fourth Edition) Axis I Disorders and symptoms were assessed using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (17 items) and Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (14 items). Clinical and sociodemographic characteristics as well as maternal and neonatal outcomes were recorded.ResultsThe case histories of seven pregnant women treated for depression and/or anxiety disorders with escitalopram were reported. Four women were also treated with benzodiazepines. All pregnancies were full-term and all newborns had normal Apgar scores. There were no major malformations or miscarriages following exposure to escitalopram. Mild withdrawal syndrome was reported only in a newborn who was also exposed to a benzodiazepine. Two infants exposed to escitalopram during breastfeeding did not show any health problems.ConclusionOur experience with use of escitalopram in pregnant women did not reveal any maternal or neonatal concerns. However, considering the few cases analyzed and the paucity of published literature, no conclusions can be drawn on its safety profile in pregnancy and breastfeeding.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.