Eutimizers In Pregnancy
Moods are a group of medications used for people with bipolar affective disorder. As the name suggests, they stabilize the mood. However, mood stabilizers in pregnancy can have unwanted effects. Which are?
These medications can be very effective for those who suffer from episodes of mania or depression. However, it must also be taken into account that they can increase the risk in pregnancy.
Certainly, waiting for the baby can be a very emotional time for women. This can be particularly difficult if they experience a mental health problem such as bipolar disorder, which is generally managed with medication to stabilize the individual.
All mood stabilizers carry risks of harm to the baby. Therefore, in the event of pregnancy, the doctor will probably ask the woman to consider switching to an alternative medication, which causes less risk, or directly advise to stop the medication altogether.
In addition, studies have shown that exposure in pregnancy to the four commonly used mood stabilizers can be teratogenic and is associated with higher rates of neonatal deformation and complications.
Bipolar disorder during pregnancy
If you are undergoing treatment for bipolar disorder and plan to become pregnant, you may have questions about what the next steps should be. In this case, the first thing you should do is analyze the situation and discuss it with a psychiatrist as soon as possible.
If you choose to continue taking mood stabilizers, it is extremely important to make sure you get the right professional support and discuss your action plans. This is done with the aim of applying the changes that are necessary to guarantee the well-being of the fetus and minimize risks.
In that sense, the options are several. The most common key mood stabilizers are lithium, sodium valproate, carbamazepine, and lamotrigine.
On the one hand, research suggests that maintaining treatment during pregnancy for women with bipolar affective disorder reduces the risk of relapse. However, one of the key questions for women and clinicians is whether there are long-term implications of exposure to mood stabilizers for child development.
Tips when using mood stabilizers in pregnancy
1 think of yourself
First of all, it is recommended that, when using mood stabilizers in pregnancy, you think of yourself first. This means that if you think you need this type of medication, you should not cut it completely.
Pregnancy is a time when you should be as stable and healthy as possible, so it may be that if you stop taking them, you may have mental health problems. This would not be safe for you or the baby.
2. Evaluate what is best for the baby
Any pregnant mother has the immense desire to be able to give birth to her child in the next few months. In this case, the most important thing is to guarantee the well-being in the child’s development and avoid any added risk.
On the contrary, you should bear in mind that the use of mood stabilizers in pregnancy brings with it some risks. As much as possible, it is advisable to reduce the dose or eliminate them completely.
3. Consider a change in medication
The last thing left for you is to consider a switch to antipsychotic medication, as it carries fewer associated risks during pregnancy. Do not forget that a change of this type must always be agreed with the doctor or psychiatrist; They will inform you about how to carry out the transition and what are the steps to follow.
Before closing, it should be remembered that bipolar disorder in pregnancy can be difficult to treat. The dilemma is whether women should continue the medication for those months, which implies accepting a lower risk of harming their unborn child, or stopping the medication and increasing the chances of recurrence.
In general, it is recommended that the use of stabilizers in pregnancy be reduced to avoid having consequences on the development of the fetus. However, it is a priority that the woman is as balanced as possible during pregnancy and fully enjoys this wonderful moment.
