Mental health conditions are real health issues that deserve appropriate and individualized medical care. Making informed healthcare decisions requires that women and their healthcare providers be aware of the available safety information for each specific medication they might be considering. We encourage pregnant women and those planning a pregnancy to have open conversations with their healthcare providers to carefully weigh any potential increased risks of medications, as well as the risks of untreated or undertreated mental health conditions.
SSRIs – including commonly prescribed medications such as Zoloft (sertraline), Lexapro (escitalopram), Prozac (fluoxetine), Paxil (paroxetine), and others – are among the most well-studied medications used in pregnancy. Decades of research have shown that SSRIs, when used appropriately and under the care of a healthcare provider, can be part of an effective treatment plan for managing mental health conditions before, during, and after pregnancy, and can contribute to better outcomes for women and their babies.
As always, MotherToBaby and the Organization of Teratology Information Specialists (OTIS) stand with women and their healthcare teams by providing up-to-date, evidence-based information on the use of medications and other exposures during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.
MotherToBaby offers free, expert-reviewed fact sheets on SSRIs and other medications, as well as on conditions such as depression, anxiety, and stress. You can find many of our mental health resources here: https://mothertobaby.org/pregnancy-breastfeeding-exposures/mental-health/. Individuals can also reach out to a MotherToBaby specialist via phone, live chat, text, or email to receive personalized, confidential support.
