In plain words
A selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, or , is a class of antidepressant medicine. It is used for depression and anxiety disorders, which are common in pregnancy and after birth. It is the same class described in the SSRI entry. Mothers who take one are often asked about it at prenatal and postpartum visits, including how it fits with breastfeeding and with the baby's health. Research on SSRI use in pregnancy is extensive, and the findings are summarized in the SSRI entry. Whether a medicine is right is a decision made with a prescriber, who knows the full history. This entry describes the class. It does not recommend a medicine.
The deeper version
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors block the presynaptic serotonin transporter, raising synaptic serotonin, and are the standard first-line pharmacologic class for moderate to severe depression and anxiety in perinatal care according to ACOG Clinical Practice Guideline No. 5 (2023). Their use in pregnancy is common, and large cohort studies have examined first-trimester and late-pregnancy exposure, with the outcomes discussed in the SSRI entry. Transfer into breast milk is generally low relative to maternal dose, and and InfantRisk maintain drug-specific summaries. This entry is descriptive and carries no dosing information.
Where it comes up
- Finding a perinatal therapistPregnancy: Mind and Life
- Medications and breastfeeding: how to checkFeeding Your Baby
- Partners get it too: paternal and partner postpartum depressionPostpartum: Mind
What mothers here say about selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
No one has posted under this term yet.
Sources
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists — Clinical Practice Guideline No. 5: Treatment and Management of Mental Health Conditions During Pregnancy and Postpartum, 2023
- National Library of Medicine — LactMed: drug and lactation database