Can Zoloft Be Taken Safely During Pregnancy?
Zoloft, or Sertraline is classified by the Food and Drug administration as a Category B drug when used during pregnancy. This means that “either animal-reproduction studies have not demonstrated a fetal risk but there are no controlled studies in pregnant women, or animal reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect that was not confirmed in controlled studies in women in the first trimester and there is no evidence of a risk in later trimesters.” Zoloft is not 100% safe to take during a pregnancy. The Mayo Clinic reports that Zoloft can be associated with a rare newborn lung problem, persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn, when taken during the last half of pregnancy. Women who take Zoloft the last half of their pregnancy are six times more likely to deliver a child with PPHN. One a more positive note the use of Zoloft during pregnancy does not increase the risk of birth defects. A women taking Zoloft during her pregnancy has the same 3-5% risk of birth defects as the g
