Wednesday 22 November 2017

Bipolar Disorder and Pregnancy

Pregnancy can be very challenging for a woman suffering from bipolar disorder. Not just the patient but even medical professionals have to face a number of difficult choices, and every approach comes with its own set of risks. It is very important for a bipolar pregnant patient to consult with a psychiatrist as well as an obstetrician to understand the benefits and risks of bipolar medications during pregnancy. 

Bipolar disorder complications during pregnancy
It is often seen that the bipolar disorder in women can worsen at the time of pregnancy. As compared to a normal woman, new mothers or pregnant women with bipolar disorder have seven times more chances of getting admitted to a hospital. 


Renowned obstetrician Dr. Max Mongelli suggests that a lot of bipolar women stop their effective pharmacotherapy when they find that they are pregnant. However, this only exposes the woman as well as the baby to risks associated with mood-related dysfunction and bipolar relapses. As not many studies are conducted on this subject, the effects of bipolar medications on the offspring are not very clear. 

Continue bipolar medications during pregnancy
A lot of women suffering from bipolar disorder give birth to healthy babies even when they continue taking bipolar medications. However, there are a few medications which are, known to have higher congenital disability risk like heart defects, neural tube defects, or neurobehavioral problems, especially in the first trimester. 

Dr. Max Mongelli suggests that a patient should compare the risks with what untreated bipolar disorder can lead into. For instance, the mood symptoms if not treated can result in behaviours like-
•Stress
•Increased use of tobacco or alcohol
•Poor nutrition
•Poor prenatal care

Popular bipolar medications used during pregnancy 
In most cases, doctors usually suggest that the patient should continue taking some medicines and stop some. This is because the risks related to mental health on stopping medication varies between patients. Expert psychiatrists advise patients to continue taking some medications, and regular tests are advised to monitor the health of the baby and the mother. Some of the most common bipolar medications which a patient might or might not be advised to continue include-

•Antipsychotic medications like Olanzapine, Aripiprazole, or Risperidone 
•Mood stabilizers like Valproate or Carbamazepine
•Antidepressants
•ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy) during pregnancy

No matter what a patient decides, Max Mongelli suggests that it is very important for a bipolar pregnant woman not to stop taking any medication or treating without first consulting with a psychiatrist and an obstetrician.

Visit here to consult a general physician near by.

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