Psychotropic Medications in Pregnancy-View Presentation

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In the SMI Advisor webinar "Psychiatric Medications in Pregnancy," Dr. Tani Smith, a board-certified psychiatric pharmacist, discussed the complexities of using psychiatric medications during pregnancy. Dr. Smith highlighted the need for a risk-risk analysis, evaluating both untreated mental illness risks and medication exposure risks. Key topics included the specific impacts of antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and antipsychotics, with an emphasis on newly available data.<br /><br />Dr. Smith pointed out that no psychotropic medications currently have FDA approval for pregnancy, making these decisions particularly nuanced. For instance, she discussed the small but present risks of using SSRIs like fluoxetine or paroxetine, balanced against untreated depression's potential harm. Similarly, mood stabilizers like lithium and lamotrigine have nuanced use cases during pregnancy, requiring careful monitoring due to physiological changes.<br /><br />The webinar stressed individualized treatment plans, collaborative decisions, and coordination with a patient's healthcare team. Dr. Smith also suggested continual education for healthcare providers using resources like the Mass General Hospital Center for Women's Mental Health and Postpartum Support International.<br /><br />Lastly, Dr. Smith discussed the limited but pertinent data on newer medications and urged providers to consider context and historical patient response when making treatment decisions for pregnant patients with mental illnesses.

Keywords

psychiatric medications

pregnancy

risk analysis

antidepressants

mood stabilizers

antipsychotics

FDA approval

individualized treatment

healthcare coordination