Safe Anti-Anxiety Treatments for Pregnant Women

Dealing with depression and anxiety is a problem that many women deal with on a daily basis. Pregnancy can disrupt treatment options for some women, as some anti-anxiety medications are unsafe or unstudied for use in pregnant women. Finding safe anti-anxiety medications or treatments for pregnant women requires research, discussion with your doctor, and an understanding of the risks associated with using or discontinuing the use of anti-anxiety medications during pregnancy.

Prozac to Treat Anxiety During Pregnancy

KellyMom, a website geared towards breastfeeding mothers, discusses the use of anti-anxiety medications and antidepressants for breastfeeding mothers. In the course of a presentation and study conducted by Thomas Hale, PhD, it was noted that though Prozac (an SSRI) does have a high transfer rate to breastmilk, it is the only drug approved by the FDA for use during pregnancy. A fact sheet provided to mothers by the Organization of Tertology Information Specialists (OTIS) however, asserts that while current studies of children whose mothers took Prozac during pregnancy are "reassuring", more studies should be undertaken to determine long term effects. If you take Prozac in order to treat an anxiety disorder or depression, your and your doctor may decide to continue treatment after weighing the pros and cons.

Zoloft to Treat Anxiety During Pregnancy

A second SSRI, Zoloft is another medication that is often used to treat depression and anxiety. Like Prozac, it can be used during pregnancy under a doctor's supervision, if the doctor and patient agree that the benefits outweigh the risks. The National Institute of Mental Health feels that for a "woman with an anxiety disorder, a change from a benzodiazepine to an antidepressant might be considered." Both zoloft and prozac are classed as antidepressants, though they are often used to treat anxiety as well. Moving to one of these medications during pregnancy might be preferable to other anxiety-specific medications.

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