Trusted Information for Healthy Pregnancies
women’s mental health
Methadone and Breastfeeding
Mar 21st
Up until 2001, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommended that methadone was compatible with breastfeeding in women taking less than 20 mg per day. Because most women on methadone maintenance therapy typically require 50 to 15o mg of methadone per day during pregnancy, this meant that most women on methadone were not able to [...]
New FDA Warning on the Use of Antipsychotic Medications in Pregnancy
Mar 9th
On February 22, 2011, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) informed healthcare professionals that drug labels for the entire class of antipsychotic drugs have been updated to include warnings regarding the use of antipsychotic drugs during pregnancy. The new drug labels now contain more details on the potential risk for abnormal muscle movements (extrapyramidal [...]
New Research from the CWMH: Escitalopram (Lexapro) for Hot Flashes
Feb 3rd
For decades, estrogen has been used to treat menopausal symptoms, including night sweats and hot flashes. However, after studies reported that estrogen increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and breast cancer, many patients and clinicians have looked into alternative treatments for hot flashes, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). According to a new study published [...]
Antiepileptic Drugs in Breastfeeding: Neurodevelopmental Outcomes
Jan 24th
Because breastfeeding has many psychological and medical benefits for both the mother and her child, many women would like to breastfeed. However, all medications taken by the mother are secreted into the breast milk. While various studies have addressed the safety of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in nursing infants, none have systematically assessed the long-term effects [...]
American Academy of Pediatrics Recommends Screening for Postpartum Depression
Jan 10th
Postpartum depression is experienced by 10-15% of women and carries risks to both mother and baby. Untreated maternal depression is associated with negative outcomes for children including behavioral problems, cognitive or developmental delays and impaired attachment. Treatment of a mother’s depression can improve not only her own functioning and quality of life, but can improve [...]
Zolpidem (Ambien) in Pregnancy: Is it Safe?
Nov 22nd
It is estimated that up to 95% of women experience some type of sleep disturbance during pregnancy. While for many women the insomnia is relatively benign and may respond to simple interventions, other women experience more severe insomnia which has a significant impact on their quality of life and ability to function. While zolpidem (Ambien), [...]
ACOG Focuses on Smoking Cessation in Pregnant and Postpartum Women
Nov 10th
In the November issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology, The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has issued recommendations to providers regarding efforts to support smoking cessation in pregnant and postpartum women. The article states that while about half of women smokers stop smoking during pregnancy, about 13% of women in the United States continue [...]
MGH Psychiatry Academy Event Announcement
Nov 2nd
Mood Disturbance and Associated Symptoms Across the Reproductive Lifecycle of Women Saturday, November 20, 2010 9:15 am to 3:15 pm The precise relationship between psychiatric symptoms and female reproductive function remains to be clarified. Investigators continue to examine questions related to premenstrual symptoms of worsening of mood and anxiety, affective instability during pregnancy, as well [...]
Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SRI) Use Associated with Reduced Intention to Breastfeed
Oct 26th
Given the potential health benefits of breastfeeding on both mother and baby, the U.S. Public Health Service for Healthy People 2010 set a goal to have 75% of mothers breastfeed in the early postpartum period and 50% of mothers to continue breastfeeding to 6 months by the year 2010 (US Dept of Health and Human [...]
Clinical Update: Use of Stimulant Medications in Pregnancy
Sep 27th
Approximately 4% of the adult population suffers from ADHD. Attention and executive functioning difficulties also occur in those with mood and psychotic disorders and require treatment strategies similar to those used to address ADHD symptoms. First line medications most often used to treat ADHD in adults are Dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine, Adderall) and Methylphenidate (Concerta, Ritalin, Metadate). [...]