Maprotiline and Pregnancy

In studies on maprotiline and pregnancy, the antidepressant did not cause any problems when it was given to pregnant animals. Since the drug has not been studied in humans, however, the full effects of using maprotiline during pregnancy are not known. If you are taking maprotiline and pregnancy occurs, be sure to talk to your healthcare provider.

 

Is Maprotiline During Pregnancy Safe? -- An Overview

For women who are pregnant, maprotiline hydrochloride (Ludiomil®) is probably safe. This is based on animal studies that looked at the effects of maprotiline during pregnancy and a few reports of birth defects in humans.
 

Maprotiline and Pregnancy Risk

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) uses a pregnancy category system to classify the possible risks to a fetus when a specific medicine is taken during pregnancy. Pregnancy Category B is given to medicines that have not been studied in pregnant humans but do not appear to cause harm to the fetus in animal studies.
 
In animal studies, maprotiline did not cause any problems for pregnant animals or their offspring. However, because no adequate human studies have been performed, the full risks of using maprotiline during pregnancy are not known.
 
It is important to keep in mind that recent studies have suggested that leaving depression untreated in a pregnant woman may actually be more harmful to the unborn baby than exposure to antidepressants.
 

Recommendations for Using Maprotiline During Pregnancy

If you are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant, let your healthcare provider know. He or she will consider both the benefits and risks of using maprotiline during pregnancy before making a recommendation for your particular situation.
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;