Antidepressants During Pregnancy

There has been a lot of controversy about antidepressants during pregnancy. If you are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant, taking antidepressants during pregnancy may be harmful to the unborn child. But it may also be harmful not to treat severe or extreme depression for the mother. When an individual has severe depression they are more likely to be a danger to themselves and their unborn child.

There are a few different antidepressant options to keep in mind if depression is so severe that it is necessary to take something during pregnancy. Tricyclic antidepressants are mood elevators and increase the level of serotonin and norepinephrine, these are suggested for someone who may have decreased amounts of the two neurochemicals. SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) increase the availability of serotonin to the brain and are used to treat various illnesses along with depression such as impulse control disorders, obsessive disorders and anxiety. Also MAOIs are generally used after other depression medications have not worked. MAOIs have a number of side effects and seem to be the most dangerous of any other antidepressant during pregnancy. All of the above medications have side effects and if you find out you are unexpectantly pregnant and are taking an antidepressant consult your physician before discontinuing the medication. Discontinuing antidepressants during pregnancy may cause a number of physical and psychological symtoms that could harm the unborn child.