For most people with schizophrenia, medication plays an important role in symptom management. Antipsychotic drugs are the most common medications for schizophrenia.
Experts don’t know for sure how safe antipsychotics are for use during pregnancy. That’s because research in this area is very limited. Available data suggest most antipsychotics, except clozapine (Clozaril), may be safe for use during pregnancy, but this doesn’t mean they’re completely without risk.
For instance, all medications tend to carry higher risks during the first trimester of pregnancy, when a developing fetus is more vulnerable. Antipsychotics also commonly cause weight gain as a side effect, which could lead to overweight or obesity and raise the risk of gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy).
Gestational diabetes is linked to certain complications. It can cause you to have a larger baby, which can cause damage to the infant’s shoulders during birth. It’s also linked to breathing issues for a baby at birth, low blood sugar levels at birth, premature birth or stillbirth, or an increased risk of obesity or type 2 diabetes at some point in your baby’s life.
But it may be safer for many people to stay on medication than to stop. That’s especially true if you or your treatment team feels that stopping meds may cause your symptoms to come back. As mentioned, schizophrenia relapse is common among people who stop taking their medication during pregnancy. Untreated or insufficiently treated schizophrenia may pose a greater risk to your baby’s health and your own than any medication-related risks.
It’s important to talk to your psychiatrist — ideally before you get pregnant — about what medicines you’re taking before and during your pregnancy, as well as the risks and benefits of both continuing and stopping medication. The best approach will vary from person to person.
Some people with psychiatric conditions may skip their meds during pregnancy out of fear it will harm the baby. It’s important that you don’t make any changes to your treatment plan without talking to your doctor first. Doing so could cause your symptoms to return or worsen.