Zoloft and Pregnancy: An Overview

Zoloft (sertraline hydrochloride) is a pregnancy Category C medicine, meaning that Zoloft could potentially cause harm to your unborn child. This is especially true during the third trimester of pregnancy.

Zoloft and Pregnancy Category C

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 C refers to medicines that have not been studied in pregnant humans but do appear to cause harm to the fetus in animal studies. Also, medicines that have not been studied in any pregnant women or animals automatically are given a pregnancy Category C rating.

Zoloft and Pregnancy: Final Thoughts

If you are pregnant (or are thinking of becoming pregnant) while taking Zoloft, let your healthcare provider know. Your healthcare provider will consider both the benefits and risks of taking Zoloft during pregnancy before making a recommendation. It is possible he or she may recommend reducing your Zoloft dosage, or weaning you off Zoloft during the third trimester of pregnancy.

Medical experts say its important to recognize that Pfizer promotes Zoloft for many disorders besides depression, meaning women may be taking the drug even though they have never been diagnosed with depression. According to the FDA, in addition to depression, Zoloft is approved to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder.

Is Zoloft safe during pregnancy?

There has been some recent acceptance of allowing mothers to stay on prozac and zoloft during pregnancy to reduce the risk of postpartum depression in susceptible women. I think your plan of decreasing your dosage sounds reasonable.

I would ask your obstetrician to consult a mental health expert and see if they can come to a mutual decision about your plan of care.

I wish you well and hope all goes well with your pregnancy and birth.