Zoloft and Pregnancy
From Pharmacy Drug Guide
Zoloft (sertraline) is a prescription medication used to treat major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic attacks, post traumatic stress disorder, and social anxiety disorder. Zoloft is approved to treat OCD in adolescents and children ages 6 and older. It is also used to help with the symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder, including irritability, mood swings, and breast tenderness.
Zoloft is in the antidepressant class known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Zoloft increases the amounts of available serotonin in the brain.[1]
The effect of Zoloft on the unborn baby during pregnancy is not currently known. For this reason, the FDA rates Zoloft as Pregnancy Category C. Some studies suggest that there is some risk of harm to the infant.[2] However, Zoloft may be prescribed to pregnant women when depression presents more risk to the fetus than the drug.
 Flickr: Amanda M Hatfield | |
| Brand name for | Sertraline |
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| Used for | Depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic attacks, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), social anxiety disorder (SAD), premenstrual dysphoric disorder(PMDD) |
| Pregnancy Risk Factor | Category C (possible risk) |
| Label instructions | Before starting Zoloft, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or are planning to become pregnant, or if you are breastfeeding[2] |
| Warnings | It is not known if Zoloft will harm the unborn baby[2] |
| Disclaimer | The information provided by PharmacyDrugGuide.com is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Do not take any action based on the information on this page without consulting a physician. |
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Zoloft's Effect on Pregnancy
Although small risks are involved, Zoloft is sometimes prescribed to pregnant women and is considered one of the safest antidepressants to use during pregnancy. Other possibilities for depressed expectant mothers include Wellbutrin, Celexa, and Prozac.
Zoloft and other drugs are only recommended in cases where the potential harm from depression puts the mother and fetus at greater risk than the side effects of the medication. This can happen when a depressed mother does not make healthy diet or lifestyle choices as a result of her mental condition. Because the risk of serious fetal harm from Zoloft is greatest during the later stages of pregnancy, doctors may recommend decreasing or stopping use during the last half of gestation.[3]
Zoloft and Pregnancy Category C
The FDA has labeled Zoloft as a Pregnancy Category C medication. Adequate human studies have not been done to establish the safety of using Zoloft during pregnancy. Use of Zoloft during pregnancy, especially during the last half, has resulted in some cases of infants being born with persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN). Infants with PPHN have abnormal blood flow through the lungs and heart, and as a result their bodies are not fully oxygenated. Other defects have been reported, including septal heart defects (an opening between the two upper chambers of the heart) and omphalocele (a disorder of the intestines or other abdominal organs). Other symptoms have been reported which are consistent either with SSRIs in the bloodstream of the newborn, or which are similar to symptoms of SSRI withdrawal.[2]
Zoloft and Breastfeeding
It is not currently known if Zoloft passes into milk during breastfeeding, and it is not known what effects Zoloft will have on nursing infants. Pfizer notes that medications are often excreted into breast milk, and recommends that caution should be exercised when Zoloft is administered to a nursing mother.[2]
That said, Zoloft is considered to be one of the safest choices for breastfeeding mothers when it comes to antidepressants (the other is Paxil). While minute traces of Zoloft are passed into breastmilk. the amounts are typically so low that lab tests cannot detect them.[4]
Drug Side Effects
Also See: Zoloft, Zoloft Side Effects, Prozac and Pregnancy, Effexor and Pregnancy, Paxil and Pregnancy, Trazodone and Pregnancy, Prescription Drugs, Zoloft Patient Assistance Programs, Pfizer Patient Assistance Programs, Marijuana and Pregnancy
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