Study Finds No Increased Risks for Pregnant Women Who Discontinue SSRIs/SNRIs

A new article published in Pharmacy and Clinical Pharmacology finds pregnant women that chose to stop using selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) did not face increased negative outcomes compared to pregnant women that continued using these drugs. The current research, led by Carolyn E. Cesta of the Karolinska Institute, found similar rates of psychiatric inpatient hospitalization, outpatient visits, and suicidal behavior at 90 days and 1.5 years after childbirth between the group that discontinued SSRI/SNRI drugs during pregnancy and the group that continued use. The group that continued use had taken more sick leave days from work at 1.5 years after childbirth. The authors note that this difference may be a result of more severe symptoms in the group that chose to continue using SSRI/SNRI drugs. The authors write:

“This Swedish population-based register cohort study investigated women who discontinued or continued SSRIs or SNRIs in pregnancy. There was no association between discontinued use and adverse psychiatric-related outcomes, including hospitalizations or outpatient visits, suicidal behavior, or sick leave absence during the 90 days and 1.5 years after childbirth, compared with continued SSRI or SNRI use.”