Safety of Psychiatric Drug Use in Pregnancy (Reprinted from Clove)

It is well known that the high prevalence of schizophrenia coincides with the childbearing years and that fertility issues need to be considered in these patients. Unfortunately, even though doctors have mentioned the risks of fertility, there are still many patients in the clinic who do not listen to advice or have unwanted pregnancies. How can psychiatrists safely administer antipsychotic medications to this special group? Let’s first look at the FDA safety classification for commonly used psychiatric drugs during pregnancy. Safety Classification Psychiatric Drugs A None B Clozapine, Buspirone, Bupropion, Zolpidem C Olanzapine, Paliperidone, Risperidone, Quetiapine, Zithromax