Trazodone in Pregnancy
The drug Trazodone is a drug that is normally prescribed to treat both anxiety and depressive disorders. It’s a triazolpyridine antidepressant which has the chemical name of trazodone hydrochloride and is marketed under the brand name Desryel. Trazodone in pregnancy has not yet had a full and conclusive case study as to the possible complications it may cause at such a time. The drug is somewhat new to the market and as it stands, there is not enough evidence to suggest any increased risk of congenital malformations during pregnancy or any other conplications for that matter. The research conducted so far is also not enough to say that there are no adverse effects that can be passed onto the child if taken during pregnancy too.
Depression and Pregnancy
Research has suggested that when an expectant mother is suffering from a psychiatric condition such as depression or anxiety during the course of the pregnancy, it is possible that some adverse neonatal effects may result from this. The potential complications include, but are not limited to hyperexcitability, jitteriness, lethargy and infant feeding issues. Because of these effects of depression and pregnancy, it’s difficult to distinguish any specific side effects of drugs such as trazodone in pregnancy from what might just be related to the depressive disorders. It is thought however that infants that are exposed to several CNS drugs may be more at risk. Another likely effect that is the case with all centrally acting drugs is the possibility of neonatal withdrawal symptoms happening if the drug is used throughout the course of the entire pregnancy.
Trazodone in Pregnancy
Trazodone and Pregnancy
Despite the lack of any credible data on the subject, there may still be occasions where trazodone may be prescribed even if the patient is pregnant. If this is the case, it is recommended to use the smallest dose possible whilst still being effective. In the case where a patient who is already been prescribed and is taking trazodone and they fall pregnant or they are to be prescribed trazodone and pregnancy, it’s important to discuss the options with your doctor. You should weigh up the risks involved with stopping or changing the medication or reducing the trazodone dosage administered against the potential for both mother and/or child to suffer a maternal relapse on the drug.
If it is clinically appropriate, all facets of this should be discussed with the patient, such as the lack of any definite data on the effects of trazodone in pregnancy as well as potential risks involved for both the mother and child in all cases, whether the drug is prescribed or not as well as alternative treatments that are available to them. Another thought when prescribing the drug to any female is the potential that female has for having a pregnancy and this should be discussed if the drug is a consideration for a female with a potential to bear a child. This should be standard practice of taking in all of the available information before making a choice on what should be the best course of action.
