Because of the harm of prescribed drugs to the fetus in the womb many doctors are at a dilemma on women who are pregnant and have bipolar disorder symptoms. There are risks involved of mood returning in the mother if she does not want to take her drugs. It is quite difficult for doctors to choose between the mother relapsing and the baby having birth defects if the mother continues with her medications.
Most Recent Studies
It has been published in the 2007 December American Journal of Psychiatry, that it is possible for bipolar returning due to short interval in pharmacotherapy. It has been warned by the study that pregnant women with the illness who stop taking their drugs may suffer severely when the bipolar symptoms return.
Colleagues at the Emory University and Harvard Medical School have observed a study of 89 bipolar women. These women were either pregnant or planning to get pregnant, of those studied more than 2/3s of those taking part stopped their drug medications for bipolar disorder during the six months period and 3 months after conception. The one third ( 27) continued on 12 weeks of their medications after they have conceived. From those who stopped their medication therapy, compared with women who did not discontinue taking their stabilizers 3 months after conception , the difference can be clearly seen.
When Women Discontinue
Women who stopped their prescribed drugs doubled their chance of their bipolar coming back of at least one to two episodes of the illness. Of women who stopped their medicated drugs, these women spent nearly 40% of their pregnant time with the bipolar symptoms compared to less than 10%who continued with their bipolar drugs and were able to do their work normally.
Fetus and Pregnancy
Freeman has revealed that by the time a woman knows she is pregnant, the high risk for the baby fetus has already gone. For women to stop their medication even for a short a short time can pose very high risk rather than a protection for the baby in the womb.
Not Treated Bipolar and the Risks
When bipolar symptoms are left untreated relapses often occur with bipolar episodes which can be both dangerous for the mother and the baby fetus. Pregnant women with bipolar can have prenatal care problems, with inadequate nutrition for both her and the fetus. Alcohol and tobacco consumption use can increase, disruption to mother child attachment, and stress within the family. There is also a strong suggestion that children with depressed mothers run into behavioral and emotional difficulty risks.
Mood stabilizers and the Risks
Nearly all mood stabilizers do pose high risks of birth deficiency. According to FDA classification, Lithium and divalproex fall in the pregnancy category D drugs and both can cause abnormalities and cardiovascular defects in the baby.
Final Word
Like some other mental illnesses with serious difficulties, bipolar disorder patients may require continuing with their drug medications even during pregnancy. Women with bipolar do go into high risks when they get pregnant during their reproduction years. At least we have given some light into why you should take bipolar medications when pregnant, for it is a smaller risk to take.
Most Recent Studies
It has been published in the 2007 December American Journal of Psychiatry, that it is possible for bipolar returning due to short interval in pharmacotherapy. It has been warned by the study that pregnant women with the illness who stop taking their drugs may suffer severely when the bipolar symptoms return.
Colleagues at the Emory University and Harvard Medical School have observed a study of 89 bipolar women. These women were either pregnant or planning to get pregnant, of those studied more than 2/3s of those taking part stopped their drug medications for bipolar disorder during the six months period and 3 months after conception. The one third ( 27) continued on 12 weeks of their medications after they have conceived. From those who stopped their medication therapy, compared with women who did not discontinue taking their stabilizers 3 months after conception , the difference can be clearly seen.
When Women Discontinue
Women who stopped their prescribed drugs doubled their chance of their bipolar coming back of at least one to two episodes of the illness. Of women who stopped their medicated drugs, these women spent nearly 40% of their pregnant time with the bipolar symptoms compared to less than 10%who continued with their bipolar drugs and were able to do their work normally.
Fetus and Pregnancy
Freeman has revealed that by the time a woman knows she is pregnant, the high risk for the baby fetus has already gone. For women to stop their medication even for a short a short time can pose very high risk rather than a protection for the baby in the womb.
Not Treated Bipolar and the Risks
When bipolar symptoms are left untreated relapses often occur with bipolar episodes which can be both dangerous for the mother and the baby fetus. Pregnant women with bipolar can have prenatal care problems, with inadequate nutrition for both her and the fetus. Alcohol and tobacco consumption use can increase, disruption to mother child attachment, and stress within the family. There is also a strong suggestion that children with depressed mothers run into behavioral and emotional difficulty risks.
Mood stabilizers and the Risks
Nearly all mood stabilizers do pose high risks of birth deficiency. According to FDA classification, Lithium and divalproex fall in the pregnancy category D drugs and both can cause abnormalities and cardiovascular defects in the baby.
Final Word
Like some other mental illnesses with serious difficulties, bipolar disorder patients may require continuing with their drug medications even during pregnancy. Women with bipolar do go into high risks when they get pregnant during their reproduction years. At least we have given some light into why you should take bipolar medications when pregnant, for it is a smaller risk to take.
About the Author:
Ken P Doyle is an advocate for bipolar disorder and has a wealth of knowledge on mental illness. As an advocate he would like to share some FREE information and findings on bipolar symptoms and bipolar medication.
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