What are the risks and recommendations for using Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and Nortriptyline (Pamelor) during pregnancy?
Tricyclic antidepressants are one of the oldest forms of depression treatments that helps overcome the illness by blocking the build-up of neurotransmitters in the brain cells. Nortriptyline (Pamelor) is a classification of tricyclic antidepressant and this drug does the same by inhibiting serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine, chemicals which are all linked with an onset of depression.
However these drugs are meant to be used with caution by pregnant women as failure to do so may result in deterioration of your baby’s development and birth. Although the risk for such a cause encouraged by dosages of antidepressants is usually low, yet there are some specific antidepressants which are not approved for intake by pregnant women as they have shown to cause harm to the baby’s health in the form of birth deformities and other difficulties.
The FDA uses a ranking system to grade the threat imposed on fetuses by usage of antidepressants. However tricyclic antidepressants mostly haven’t received any rankings by the
However it is best consult your doctor first as previous studies have shown them to cause problems during pregnancy.