Psychotropic Prescribing in Pregnancy and Lactation

The decision to prescribe psychotropic medication is always a matter of weighing up potential risks and benefits but at no time is this more difficult than in pregnancy and the post-partum period. This is because the risks do not only relate to the side-effects for the mother but also potential adverse outcomes for the pregnancy and the child who may be particularly vulnerable during fetal development and breastfeeding. In addition, there is often a degree of uncertainty about what added risks medication may bring compared with no treatment.