Patterns of antidepressant use during pregnancy: a nationwide population‐based cohort study

Abstract

These results suggest that pregnancy was planned or the treatment especially adapted in accordance with existing recommendations in a large proportion of women under antidepressants or in whom such treatments have been initiated after starting a pregnancy.

Effect of sertraline on central serotonin and hippocampal plasticity in pregnant and non-pregnant rats

“…Up to 10% of women are prescribed SSRIs while pregnant with sertraline being one of the most popular SSRIs prescribed to date (Andrade et al, 2008;Benard-Laribiere et al, 2018; been given to the impact of sex/gender or the complex physiology of pregnancy and their unique effects on mental illness (Feghali et al, 2015;Kokras et al, 2019a;Pawluski and Dickens, 2019). Findings from this study show that sertraline has a significant impact on the female brain with differences in serum medication levels, the serotonergic system in the hippocampus and PFC, and measures of neuroplasticity in the hippocampus.…”

“…Prescription rates for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor medications (SSRIs) during pregnancy are between 4-10% in developed countries studied to date (Benard-Laribiere et al, 2018;Liang et al, 2019). SSRIs are prescribed to treat the growing number of women diagnosed with peripartum mood and anxiety disorders despite the fact that we know very little about how these medications affect the maternal brain (Drury et al, 2016;Gavin et al, 2005;Moses-Kolko et al, 2014;Pawluski et al, 2019a;Pawluski et al, 2019b;Pawluski et al, 2017).…”

“…The primary aims of the current study were to determine how sertraline, one of the most commonly used SSRIs during pregnancy (Benard-Laribiere et al, 2018;Liang et al, 2019), 1) affects the serotonergic system of the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex (PFC) and 2) affects measures of neuroplasticity (cell proliferation, immature neurons, and synaptic protein levels) in the hippocampus when compared to age-matched non-pregnant females. Two doses of sertraline (2.5mg/kg/day and 10mg/kg/day) were administered via a biscuit and vehicle (0mg/kg/day) was administered as a control to pregnant females for the last half of pregnancy (10 days) and nonpregnant age-matched virgin females.…”

Psychotropic medication use during pregnancy

“…Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most commonly prescribed antidepressant medication during pregnancy . There is no strong evidence that the use of SSRIs as a class is associated with an increased risk of major congenital malformations .…”

Spotlight Commentary: Medicines use during pregnancy and harmful effects on offspring

“…A study conducted in France found that about a quarter of pregnant women took antidepressants and this highlights the potential safety concern about the offspring of these pregnant women. However, decisions regarding the use of antidepressants during pregnancy are complex and requires balancing the risks and benefits of the medications on both mother and child.…”