11.3 Consequential Chemicals: Antidepressant Risks during Pregnancy

Dr. Urato has been talking about the risks of SSRIs (Prozac, Zoloft, Lexapro, Paxil, etc.) during pregnancy for almost as long as he was talking about the risks of Makena, nearly two decades.  He reveals to us the data behind the FACT that there are risks to the developing fetus of maternal SSRI use during pregnancy, starting with the common sense evidence, followed by information obtained from human research, animal randomized controlled trials, and finally and most recently, MRI and functionalMRI findings in children of mothers on antidepressants.  The point of this series (or our jobs as physicians) is not to pill shame anybody or over-exaggerate the risks of SSRIs in pregnancy, it is to provide our patients with the most up-to-date and SCIENTIFIC evidence to collaborate WITH them and HELP them make the best and most informed decisions for them.  I reveal to Adam some of the pharmaceutical industry's disdain for lithium, one of the oldest, cheapest, and most effectives medication in all of psychiatry, as well as some of the questionable recommendations for its use during pregnancy, especially in light of the risks of the most commonly used class, SSRIs.  Lithium is by no means safe during pregnancy, especially at high doses, however, its risks may be somewhat sensationalized, and I hope to have Adam back on in the future to discuss the potential lower risk in unipolar and bipolar depressed pregnant patients. Thanks for listening.  For more social media content, check us out on all social media platforms @Renegadepsych. If you have any comments, questions or challenges to the information we've presented here, if you'd like to be a guest to the show, or if you have general comments, questions, or suggestions, email us at [email protected] and follow the link https://renegade-psych.podcastpage.io/  to our website for source material, transcripts, and additional links for my guests. If you feel passionate about our message and what we're trying to do, and you'd like to donate, you can also follow the link in the show notes to our website. Disclaimer, this podcast is for informational purposes only. The information provided in this podcast and related materials are meant only to educate.  This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice. While I am a medical doctor and many of my guests have extensive medical training and experience, nothing stated in this podcast nor materials related to this podcast, including recommended websites, texts, graphics, images, or any other materials should be treated as a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice, diagnosis or treatment. All listeners should consult with a medical professional, licensed mental health provider or other healthcare provider if seeking medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.