Talk to Your Doctor About Taking Anti-Psychotic Medications During Pregnancy

Taking anti-psychotic medications while pregnant has become known as detrimental for the baby, but it does not add much risk of birth defects, so women on these medications should consult with their physician about their treatment path.

Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder, or a psychological ailment that can affect women during or after pregnancy, occurs in about one in five women, said Tina Walch, MD, chief medical officer of South Oaks Hospital.

“It’s one of the most common complications of pregnancy,” Dr. Walch said.

She encourages women who were on medications before they got pregnant to consult with their physician, ob/gyn or psychiatrist to determine the best way to proceed, which can include staying on the medication. The risk of an adverse reaction or event from being taken off of these medications is markedly higher than the risk of a birth defect from these medications, Dr. Walch said.

Taking anti-psychotic medications while pregnant has gotten a bad reputation, which Dr. Walch attributes at least partially to the unfortunate side effects babies experienced when their mothers were prescribed thalidomide for nausea. The risk of a baby having a birth defect from its mother taking anti-psychotic medications while pregnant is only about a half a percent higher than if the mother was not on that medication, Dr. Walch explains.

“Women need to know those facts and figures and make an informed decision,” Dr. Walch said.

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