Patient's question:
I have been taking antidepressants for over two years. Due to training reasons, I have been working on three rotating shifts—day, night, and day again. Night shifts are 12 hours long. Initially, I took one pill, but gradually, the dosage increased, and now I take three pills. Occasionally, I forget to take them, and my mental state is not good either. In my situation, can I get pregnant? I want a baby, but is there any way to switch to a medication that is less harmful to the baby?Doctor's answer:
Clinical diagnostic trials of Paroxetine in early pregnancy and lactation: Animal studies have shown that this drug has no teratogenic effects and no selective embryotoxic effects. Recent epidemiological studies reporting on the outcomes of early pregnancy in the first three months of pregnancy have indicated a decreased risk of congenital malformations associated with the use of Paroxetine, particularly in the cardiovascular system (e.g., atrial and ventricular septal defects). It is best to wait for at least one year before attempting to conceive again.