Psychotropic Medications in Pregnancy-View Presentation Slides

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The webinar "Psychiatric Medications in Pregnancy" by the American Psychiatric Association addresses the complexities of using psychotropic medications during pregnancy. It offers continuing education credits to physicians and nurses and includes downloadable resources and closed captioning.<br /><br />The webinar, led by Tawny L. Smith from the Dell Medical School, aims to equip participants with skills to assess the risk versus benefit of psychotropic medication use during pregnancy, understand its impact on the fetus, and recognize how pregnancy alters drug pharmacokinetics.<br /><br />Key considerations include the risks associated with both treating and not treating psychiatric conditions during pregnancy. Untreated mental illnesses pose significant risks to the mother and child, including poor self-care, substance use, and post-partum illness. Medication discontinuation can lead to relapse, notably for those with severe depression or recurrent illnesses. The risks of untreated mental illness are weighed against potential teratogenicity and obstetric or neonatal complications from medication.<br /><br />The nuanced approach advocated involves patient-centered care, considering individual circumstances and coordinating with healthcare providers. The discussion includes potential risks of in utero exposure to various medications like SSRIs, SNRIs, atypical antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and antipsychotics. SSRIs have concerns like persistent pulmonary hypertension, while mood stabilizers like lithium and valproic acid present their own sets of challenges.<br /><br />Many studies on medication safety are observational and limited by confounding factors. Therefore, clinical decisions often rely on risk assessment, and in many cases, a monotherapy approach at the lowest effective dose is preferred. The challenge lies in balancing metabolic changes during pregnancy and ensuring optimal medication management for minimizing risks.<br /><br />Resources such as the MGH Center for Women’s Mental Health and infantrisk.com are suggested for further guidance. The session concludes by highlighting upcoming webinars and offering options for further learning and consultation with experts in severe mental illness.

Keywords

Psychiatric Medications

Pregnancy

Psychotropic Medications

Risk Assessment

Mental Health

Teratogenicity

SSRI

Mood Stabilizers

Patient-centered Care

Pharmacokinetics