MotherToBaby

Medications and More during pregnancy and breastfeeding

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Sertraline (Zoloft®)

Selected References:

  • Alwan S, et al. 2007. Use of selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors in pregnancy and the risk of birth defects. N Engl J Med 356(26):2684-2692.
  • Andersen JT, et al. 2014. Exposure to Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors in Early Pregnancy and the Risk of Miscarriage. Obstet Gynecol. 2014.
  • Andrade S, et al. 2009. Antidepressant use and risk of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 18(3):246-252.
  • Berard A, et al. 2017. Antidepressant use during pregnancy and the risk of major congenital malformations in a cohort of depressed pregnant women: An updated analysis of the Quebec Pregnancy Cohort. BMJ Open;7:e013372.
  • Bonari L, et al. 2004. Perinatal risks of untreated depression during pregnancy. Can J Psychiatry 49(11):726-735.
  • Casper R, et al. 2003. Follow-up of children of depressed mothers exposed or not exposed to antidepressant drugs during pregnancy. J Pediatr 142:402- 408.
  • Chambers C, et al. 2006. Selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors and risk of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn. N Engl J Med 354(6)579- 587.
  • Cuomo A, et al. 2018. Using sertraline in postpartum and breastfeeding: balancing risks and benefits. Expert Opin Drug Saf. 17(7):719-725.
  • De Vries, C.,et al. 2021. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Considering the Risk for Congenital Heart Defects of Antidepressant Classes and Individual Antidepressants. Drug Safety, 44(3), 291–312.
  • Ericson A, et al. 1999. Delivery outcome after the use of antidepressants in early pregnancy. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 55:503-508.
  • Food and Drug Administration 2011. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-drug-safety-communication-selective-serotonin-reuptake-inhibitor-ssri-antidepressant-use-during#data [accessed 12/19].
  • Furu K, et al. 2015. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and venlafaxine in early pregnancy and risk of birth defects: population based cohort study and sibling design. Bmj.350:h1798.
  • Grigoriadis S, et al. 2013. The effect of prenatal antidepressant exposure on neonatal adaptation: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Clin Psychiatry. 74(4):e309-20.
  • Grigoriadis et al. 2014. Prenatal exposure to antidepressants and persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Jan 14. 348:f6932
  • Hendrick V, et al. 2001. Use of sertraline, paroxetine and fluvoxamine by nursing women. British Journal of Psychiatry. 179:163-166.
  • Hogue AN, et al. 2017. Effects of in-utero exposure to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and venlafaxine on term and preterm infants. J Neonatal Perinatal Med. 10(4):371-380.
  • Jordan S, et al. 2016. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) in pregnancy and congenital anomalies: Analysis of linked databases in Wales, Norway and Funen, Denmark. PLOS One.
  • Källén B, Olausson PO. 2008. Maternal use of selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors and persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. (8):801-806.
  • Kallen BAJ, et al. 2007. Maternal use of selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors in early pregnancy and infant congenital malformations. Birth Defects Res A Clin Mol Teratol 79(4):301-308.
  • Kieler H, et al. 2011. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors during pregnancy and risk of persistent pulmonary hypertension in the newborn: a population based cohort study from five Nordic countries. BMJ 344: d8012.
  • Kieviet N, et al. 2015. Risk factors for poor neonatal adaptation after exposure to antidepressants in utero. Acta Paediatr.104(4):384-91.
  • Kolding L et al. 2019. Sertraline use during pregnancy and effect on fetal cardiac function. J Maternal Fetal Neonatal Med. Nov 12:1-8.
  • Kristensen JH, et al. 1998. Distribution and excretion of sertraline and N-desmethylsertraline in human milk. Br J Clin Pharmacol 45:453-457.
  • Levinson-Castiel R, et al. 2006. Neonatal abstinence syndrome after in utero exposure to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in term infants. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 160:173-176.
  • Louik C, et al. 2007 First trimester use of selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors and the risk of birth defects. N Engl J Med 356(26):2675-2683.
  • Mammen OK, et al. 1997. Sertraline and norsertraline levels in three breastfed infants. J Clin Psychiatry 58:100-103.
  • Masarwa R, et al. 2019. Prenatal exposure to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors and risk for persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and network meta-analysis. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 220(1):57.
  • Mattson S, et al. 1999. Neurobehavioral follow-up of children prenatally exposed to fluoxetine [abstract]. In: Teratology 59:376.
  • Misiri S, et al. 2006. Internalizing behaviors in 4 year old children exposed in utero to psychotropic medications. American Journal of Psychiatry; 163(6): 1026- 1032.
  • Nulman I, et al. 1997. Neurodevelopment of children exposed in utero to antidepressant drugs. N Engl J Med 336 (4):258-262.
  • Oberlander TF, et al, 2008. Major congenital malformations following prenatal exposure to serotonin reuptake inhibitors and benzodiazepines using population based health data. Birth Defects Res B Dev Reprod Toxicol. 83(1):68 76.
  • Pedersen LH, et al. 2009. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in pregnancy and congenital malformations: population based cohort study. BMJ 339:b3569.
  • Pinheiro E, et al. 2015. Sertraline and breastfeeding: review and meta-analysis. Archives of Women’s Mental Health.18(2):139-46.
  • Rommel, A.-S.,et al. 2020. Long-Term Effects of Intrauterine Exposure to Antidepressants on Physical, Neurodevelopmental, and Psychiatric Outcomes: A Systematic Review. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 81(3), 19r12965.
  • Sanz E, et al. 2005. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in pregnant women and neonatal withdrawal syndrome: a database analysis. Lancet 365:482-487.
  • Semet M, et al. 2017. The impact of drugs on male fertility: a review. Andrology5(4): 640-663.
  • Sjaarda LA, et al. 2020. Urinary selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors across critical windows of pregnancy establishment: A prospective cohort study of fecundability and pregnancy loss. Fertility and Sterility, 114(6), 1278–1287.
  • Stowe ZN, et al. 1997. Sertraline and desmethylsertraline in human breast milk and nursing infants. Am J Psychiatry 154:1255-1260.Sylvester C, et al. 2019. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors and Fertility: Considerations for Couples Trying to Conceive. Harv Rev Psychiatry 27(2):108-118.
  • Toh S, et al. 2009 Antidepressant use during pregnancy and the risk of preterm delivery and fetal growth restriction. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 29(6):555-60.
  • Wang S, et al. 2015. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) and the Risk of Congenital Heart Defects: A Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies. Journal of the American Heart Association.4(5).
  • Uguz, F. 2020. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and the risk of congenital anomalies: A systematic review of current meta-analyses. Expert Opinion on Drug Safety, 19(12), 1595–1604.
  • Wisner KL, et al. 1998. Serum sertraline and N-desmethylsertraline levels in breastfeeding mother-infant pairs. Am J Psychiatry 155:690-692.
  • Womersely K, et al. 2017. What are the risks associated with different Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) to treat depression and anxiety in pregnancy? An evaluation of current evidence. Psychiatr Danub. 29(Suppl. 3):629-644.