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Lexapro Safety During Pregnancy

Every once in a while, you may feel symptoms of the "blues." If they don't go away, it may be depression. Once a woman has been diagnosed with depression, her doctor may prescribe Lexapro to counter the effects of depression. If she becomes pregnant, she should be aware of the side effects of Lexapro with pregnancy.

  1. What is Lexapro?

    • Lexapro is a common drug used for conditions that deal with major depression. Major depression is a steadily low mood that hinders day-to-day functioning. Lexapro can also be used to care for "generalized anxiety disorder, a condition marked by excessive worry and anxiety that is hard to control and interferes with daily life."

    Common Side Effects

    • Some reported side effects are "constipation, decreased appetite, decreased sex drive, diarrhea, dizziness, dry mouth, ejaculation disorder, fatigue, flu-like symptoms, headache, impotence, indigestion, insomnia, nausea, runny nose, sinusitis, sleepiness, sweating," according to Lexapro.com.

    Recent Study

    • According to fda.gov, a recent study showed that babies born to mothers who took Lexapro--among other similar antidepressants--after Week 20 of her pregnancy had babies who "were six times more likely to have persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN) than infants born to mothers who did not take antidepressants during pregnancy."

    Relapse

    • After a woman weighs the benefits and possible side effects of taking Lexapro during pregnancy, she should also be aware that according to fda.gov, women who discontinue use of antidepressants during pregnancy have a high risk of relapsing back into depression.

    Advice

    • Based on this study, the Food and Drug Administration recommends that doctors go into great detail with their patients on the positive and possible negative side effects of Lexapro during pregnancy.

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