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» Medications » Additional Medication Information
Special Considerations for Pregnant, Nursing, or Childbearing-Age Women
Pregnancy
During even the earliest weeks of pregnancy, there is a possible risk of birth defects with some medications. In general, during pregnancy, all medications—prescription and over-the-counter--should be avoided if possible, and other treatments should be tried instead.
A woman who is taking psychotherapeutic medication and plans to become pregnant should discuss her plans with her doctor and therapist. If she discovers that she is pregnant, she should contact her doctor or therapist immediately.
The decision to take any medication during pregnancy should be made only after a careful discussion with the prescribing doctor or therapist concerning the risks and benefits to the woman and her baby.
Breastfeeding
If a woman is taking medication--prescription or over-the-counter--and is breastfeeding, traces of the medication can pass through the breast milk and may cause adverse affects for the nursing baby. When faced with this issue, some women choose to continue with their medication treatment and switch to feeding their baby formula instead of continuing to breast feed.
The decision to take any medication during breastfeeding should be made only after a careful discussion with the prescribing doctor or therapist concerning the possible risks to the baby.
Birth-Control Pills
The estrogen in birth-control pills may alter the breakdown of other medications by the body, for example increasing side-effects of some antianxiety medications and/or reducing their efficacy in relieving symptoms of anxiety. A woman should be sure to let her doctor or therapist know if she is taking birth-control pills.
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