Impact of psychotropic drugs in pregnancy on infant's neurobehavioral development II.: Antipsychotics, Mood stabilizers, Anxiolytics
Abstract
The analysis of potential risks associated with both untreated illness and drugs for fetus is necessary in treatment of women, who plan to become or already are pregnant. Antipsychotics, mood stabilizers and anxiolytics, all pass through the placenta to the blood circuit of the fetus and then cross the haematoencephalic barrier, affecting the development of central nervous system.
Negative consequences of prenatal exposure to psychotropic drugs are not only short-term but also long-term, manifesting themselves many years after the delivery. We review current published data on the effects of antipsychotics, mood stabilizers and anxiolytics on the psychomotor, cognitive and behavioral development of prenatally exposed infant.
Limited available data suggest that antipsychotics have only intermittent negative impact on psychomotor development. Neurobehavioral toxicity of valproate has been repeatedly replicated; thus valproate should not be prescribed during pregnancy.
Data on other mood stabilizers/antiepileptics are mostly negative or do not reach clinical significance. Results of published studies on prenatal lithium exposure do not suggest a negative impact on the postnatal development of a child.
Evidence of neurobehavioral toxicity of anxiolytics is both limited and inconsistent, with negative impact of untreated anxiety disorders.