Antidepressants for postnatal depression

Find out about the benefits of taking these drugs, as well as the possible side effects. Antidepressants can help treat postpartum depression. It is not clear whether antidepressants are effective for the prevention of postnatal depression. For more information on the use of antidepressants in a postnatal or breastfeeding woman, see Prescribing an antidepressant in the postnatal period.

For a woman with persistent subthreshold depressive symptoms, or mild to moderate depression , in the postnatal perio consider referral for facilitated self-help. Continuation of antidepressants through pregnancy in such women may prevent postnatal depression , but this was not tested in these studies.

They may also be used if you have mild postnatal depression and a history of depression. This ultimately restores normal mood and behavioral functions. What are antidepressants ? This brief reviews evidence concerning the safety and effectiveness of antidepressants for treating postnatal depression. Postnatal depression is a type of depression that many parents experience after having a baby. Which antidepressant works best?

Could oxytocin treat postpartum depression? See also the leaflet on Depression. The symptoms are similar to those that occur with depression at any other time.

They usually include one or more of the following. Overview of Condition Postnatal Depression. Untreated postpartum depression can last for months or longer, sometimes becoming a chronic depressive disorder. Postpartum depression can have a ripple effect, causing emotional strain for everyone close to a new baby.

Most of the time, it occurs sometime in the first weeks after delivery. The adverse influences of postnatal depression may lead to depression in the woman’s partner, and cognitive, emotional and behavioural difficulties in the young child. Side Effects of Depression Medications After Childbirth. Two side effects of medications for postnatal depression are especially problematic for new mothers: weight gain and loss of libido.

Note: You should always discuss medication side effects with your doctor. Stopping or changing your medication on your own could be disastrous! It’s a common problem, affecting more than in every women within a year of giving birth. By contrast, there was a paucity of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) focusing on pregnant women, due to concerns about possible adverse health outcomes. Thus, most clinical trials have used male participants.

Consequently, little is known about the causal relationship between use of antidepressants and postnatal depression. Clinical Question Are antidepressants associated with improved outcomes for postnatal depression ? Bottom Line Compared with placebo, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are associated with better response and remission rates for postnatal depression. Treatment is often largely by social support and psychological interventions.

It is not known whether antidepressants are an effective and safe choice for treatment of this disorder.

Just like other types of depression , there is no simple reason as to why some women experience postnatal depression and others don’t. Experiencing depression at some time in the past, particularly during the pregnancy, is the single biggest risk factor for postnatal depression. View the UCSF Fresno Center for Medical Education and Research Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) U. Preventive Services Task Force Final Recommendation Statement on Depression in Adults: Screening. The USPSTF recommends screening for depression in the general adult population, including pregnant and postpartum women. If it’s postpartum depression , there are treatments that will get you back to feeling like yourself again.

Your doctor might decide prescribing you antidepressants will help. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scaleis a 10-item, self-rated instrument that has been used to screen for PMD in primary care practices throughout.