TABLE 3.
Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor and Benzodiazepine Exposure Data (N=62)a
| Variable | SSRI (N=52) |
SSRI Plus Benzodiazepine (N=10) |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean | SD | Mean | SD | |
| Mean daily standard dose equivalent SSRIb | 1.7 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 0.9 |
| Days of SSRI use in pregnancy | 189.7 | 90.6 | 167.3 | 85.3 |
| Days of SSRI use in the first postnatal month | 19.5 | 12.4 | 27.0 | 1.1 |
| Maternal plasma SSRI level at delivery (ng/ml)c | 21.4 | 24.3 | 29.6 | 17.7 |
| Infant cord blood SSRI level at delivery (ng/ml)d | 12.3 | 9.9 | 7.3 | 4.4 |
| N | % | N | % | |
| Number using SSRIs in the first trimester | 39 | 75.0 | 5 | 50.0 |
| Number using SSRIs in the second trimester | 44 | 86.6 | 8 | 80.0 |
| Number using SSRIs in the third trimester | 41 | 78.9 | 9 | 90.0 |
| Number using SSRIs in the first postnatal month | 41 | 78.9 | 10 | 100.0 |
| Primary SSRI Taken | ||||
| Sertraline | 32 | 61.5 | 6 | 60.0 |
| Citalopram | 7 | 13.5 | 3 | 30.0 |
| Escitalopram | 3 | 5.8 | 0 | |
| Fluoxetine | 5 | 9.6 | 1 | 10.0 |
| Venlafaxine | 4 | 7.7 | 0 | |
| Duloxetine | 1 | 1.9 | 0 | |
| Benzodiazepine use in pregnancy | ||||
| Benzodiazepine use through delivery | 0 | 9 | 90.0 | |
| Benzodiazepine use in the first postnatal month | 0 | 8 | 80.0 | |
| Clonazepam | 0 | 2 | 20.0 | |
| Lorazepam | 0 | 6 | 60.0 | |
| Alprazolam | 0 | 2 | 20.0 | |
| Other concurrent medications | ||||
| Atypical antidepressant (bupropion) | 3 | 5.8 | 3 | 30.0 |
| Hypnotic antidepressant (trazodone, amitriptyline) | 6 | 11.5 | 1 | 10.0 |
| Hypnotic, non-benzodiazepine | 5 | 9.6 | 3 | 30.0 |
| Buspirone | 0 | 1 | 10.0 | |
| Melatonin | 1 | 1.9 | 0 | |
| Hydroxyzine | 0 | 1 | 10.0 | |
| Zolpidem tartrate | 4 | 7.7 | 1 | 10.0 |
| Atypical antipsychotic (quetiapine) | 1 | 1.9 | 0 | |
No significant group differences were found for antidepressant medication-related variables. SSRI=selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor/serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor antidepressant.
For each SSRI, the mean standard dose was calculated for each trimester and total pregnancy based on the reported dose taken divided by the standard dose defined by the Physicians’ Desk Reference.
Data indicate the maternal venous blood for the SSRI drug level obtained from a subset of participants immediately following delivery of the infant (SSRI: N=21, SSRI plus benzodiazepine: N=8).
Data indicate the infant cord blood for the SSRI drug level obtained from a subset of infants (SSRI: N=16, SSRI plus benzodiazepine: N=7).