Antidepressant medication in pregnancy
It is not uncommon for women to be prescribed antidepressant or antipsychotic medication before getting pregnant or during pregnancy. If you are taking any medication for your mental health when you find out that you are pregnant, it is very important that you don’t just stop taking the medication. You should instead speak to a health professional, such as your GP, Obstetrician or Midwife before stopping, so that you can discuss the benefits of remaining on medication vs. the risks.
Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy (BUMPs) is a useful website to weigh up the risks and benefits for taking medications within pregnancy.
Once on the website, simply use the search bar to type in the medication you are taking to read current information on its use in pregnancy and during breastfeeding in the postnatal period.
All medications prescribed within pregnancy are considered on a case by case basis. Your mental health is incredibly important, so your obstetrician/GP will work with you to decide whether medication is the best course of treatment for you. Sometimes taking an antidepressant or an antipsychotic medication in pregnancy is a necessity to make sure you are emotionally well and that is okay.
Other times, support and advice may help. We have a range of different charities and groups locally that can offer this, - see our charities and groups section.
