Safety in treatment: Classical pharmacotherapeutics and new avenues for addressing maternal depression and anxiety during pregnancy.
Pharmacological reviews May 1, 2025 Merel Dagher, Catherine M Cahill, Anne M Andrews 10 citations
Antidepressant use during pregnancy has limited adverse effects on fetal health and child development, particularly for SSRIs and SNRIs, while untreated maternal depression carries well-researched harms. Pregnancy alters drug disposition and metabolism, affecting both mother and fetus. The FDA advises caution due to a lack of safety studies, as pregnant individuals are often excluded from clinical trials. The review asserts that individuals should be counseled on risks and benefits of treatment, as withholding treatment has possible negative outcomes. Newer therapeutics like ketamine and κ-opioid receptor antagonists warrant further investigation for use during pregnancy.