I want to get pregnant and I am taking sertraline. Do I need to change my prescription?

Hello,

The most important question to ask is why you are taking sertraline. If you have been taking it for many years and the problem has been resolved in your personal life or with psychotherapy, perhaps stopping can be considered. If you have been taking it for less than 2 years or the problem you are treating is still present, it is recommended to continue the antidepressant during pregnancy, as the depression or anxiety may be more harmful to the baby than the medication itself.

Sertraline has been studied frequently in pregnant women. It does not increase the risk of major malformations. It may increase the risk of some other complications (prematurity, pre-eclampsia, etc.) However, it has been observed that women who did not smoke, did not drink alcohol and ate well during pregnancy were less at risk.

I am giving you a general answer here, which may not apply specifically to you and your health condition. I recommend that you talk to your family doctor about all of these issues before you get pregnant.

Finally, all women who want to get pregnant should take a folic acid supplement about 3 months before pregnancy to prevent malformations that may occur in the first weeks of gestation. Your pharmacist can prescribe folic acid so that it is covered by your insurance.

I hope this answers your question,

Sandrine