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Zoloft and Pregnancy

The current information that exists about Zoloft indicates that taking the medication during a pregnancy can possibly harm the fetus. Zoloft is classified as a Category C drug by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), indicating the level of harm for an unborn child. Some doctors prescribe Zoloft to pregnant women. However, weighing the benefits of taking the medicine alongside the risks associated to the unborn child should be a priority. Tell your healthcare provider if you are currently taking Zoloft and become pregnant.

The category system that the FDA uses to determine the potential risks for a fetus refers to medicines placed on the market without going through studies of pregnant women. The drugs were tested in animal studies and appeared to harm the fetus in animals. Additionally, there are drugs that have not been tested in animals or pregnant women that are automatically rated as a pregnancy Category C.

The risks associated with Zoloft are greater during the third trimester of a pregnancy. An adverse effect in animal fetuses does not automatically mean that the same will occur in a human fetus. Animals can have a different response. This may lead some healthcare providers to prescribe a Category C medication to pregnant women if the benefits for the woman’s health outweigh taking a chance of harming an unborn child.

Known Side Effects from Zoloft

There are a number of known side effects experienced by newborns as a result of the mother taking Zoloft while pregnant. These include: birth defects; persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN); withdrawals; congenital heart defects; atrial or ventricular septal defects (known as a hole in the heart; omphalocele (abdominal birth defects); and, craniosynostosis (cranial birth defects.

Third Trimester Concerns for Zoloft and Pregnancy

Reports have shown that if a fetus is exposed to Zoloft during the third trimester, complications may develop requiring hospitalization, tube feeding, and/or respiratory support. The newborn child had a number of symptoms which included feeding difficulties, tremors, difficulty breathing, a lack of oxygen to the blood, seizures, and constant crying.

Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN)

The results from a case-controlled study were released by The New England Journal of Medicine. The study revealed the increase of infants being born with persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN). The release of this study prompted the FDA to issue a Public Health Advisory that warned about the extreme risks of PPHN to a fetus during pregnancy based on exposure to Zoloft

Congenital Heart Defect

The FDA continues to warn healthcare providers and patients about the risks associated with taking Zoloft during pregnancy. Congenital heart defects are another side effect from taking the pregnancy Category C. The most common form of heart birth defects induced by Zoloft was either a ventricular septal or an atrial septal defect.

Abdominal and Cranial Birth Defects

The National Birth Defects Prevention Study released information that taking an antidepressant such as Zoloft can cause one of two congenital abnormalities called omphalocele and craniosynostosis.

Present at birth, omphalocele is a condition that causes a congenital abdominal wall defect at the bottom of the umbilical cord. A sac protrudes through the defect at the time of birth, containing the large intestine, small intestine and liver.

Craniosyntosis is also present at birth and causes one or more sutures on the newborn’s head to close sooner than normal. This congenital defect affects the sutures that should separate skull bones. The infant will have an abnormally shaped head if the sutures close too early.

Final Thoughts on Zoloft and Pregnancy

You should immediately inform your healthcare provider if you are taking Zoloft and become pregnant. Even if you are considering becoming pregnant, tell your doctor. The benefits and risks associated with taking Zoloft during a pregnancy will be carefully weighed. Your doctor could recommend reducing your dosage of Zoloft. Another option is to begin weaning you from the drug once you enter the third trimester, when the risks of birth defects increase.