Medication In Pregnancy
Child, Adolescent, and Adult Psychiatry & Perinatal Specialist located in Cherry Hill , NJ
Although the general medical advice is to avoid drugs during pregnancy, some women should still take their psychiatric medications. If you’re pregnant and have a mental health problem requiring prescription medication, talk to Dr. Amy Carnall, DNP, APN, PMHNP-BC, and Christina Sertway, APN, PMHNP-BC, at Clarity Psychiatry Care in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. They have specialized expertise in helping women make the right choice concerning medication during pregnancy. Call Clarity Psychiatry Care or schedule a consultation online today to discuss your medication in pregnancy needs.
Some medications are known to be unsuitable during pregnancy because they can affect the fetus and may cause:
In many cases, there’s insufficient evidence to determine whether a particular drug will cause harm during pregnancy. However, there are also medicines that you can take during pregnancy that won’t harm your baby.
You should always talk to your primary care provider or obstetrician about taking medications during pregnancy, including over-the-counter medicines and any complementary treatments. If you take psychiatric drugs, the Clarity Psychiatry Care team can help you decide whether to continue with your meds.
Women who take psychiatric medication often stop their drugs when they discover they’re pregnant. They worry about harming the baby, but if you’re in this position, you should seek advice from the Clarity Psychiatry Care team before making any changes.
Suddenly stopping psychiatric medication without a gradual reduction period could have serious side effects and worsen your condition. Pregnancy could also trigger a psychiatric disorder in some women, putting them and their babies at risk.
There’s insufficient research about how most psychiatric medications might affect your pregnancy or the fetus. However, for most psychiatric drugs, the benefits outweigh any possible risks. For example, if you suffer from depression, not taking your meds could worsen your condition and even lead to self-harm or suicidal thoughts.
Women typically give birth to healthy babies after continuing their medication throughout pregnancy. Don’t assume you must come off much-needed medicines without talking to the Clarity Psychiatry Care team first.
The need for psychiatric medications often increases after childbirth, as many women develop additional mental health problems.
Postpartum depression (the baby blues) and anxiety are common in new moms or may surface sometime after birth. You might feel sad, teary, worthless, or overly anxious about caring for your newborn.
Postpartum psychosis is a severe psychiatric disorder affecting fewer women than postpartum depression. In addition to depression, women with postpartum psychosis experience hallucinations — hearing or seeing things that aren’t real. This disorder requires urgent treatment that’s likely to involve taking medication.
To learn more about taking medications in pregnancy, call Clarity Psychiatry Care today or schedule a consultation online.