Trazodone
Quick read
Trazodone use may occasionally be advised in pregnancy if it is needed to control depression or anxiety.
What is it?
Trazodone (Molipaxin®) is used to treat depression and anxiety.
Benefits
What are the benefits of taking trazodone in pregnancy?
Trazodone can improve your mood and feelings of wellbeing. It is very important that mental health conditions are appropriately treated to ensure a woman is well during pregnancy and while looking after her baby.
Risks
Are there any risks of taking trazodone in pregnancy?
While there is no evidence that use of trazodone in pregnancy causes miscarriage, birth defects, stillbirth, preterm birth, or low infant birth weight, more studies are required to fully rule out problems.
Trazodone can potentially cause short-term withdrawal symptoms in the newborn baby if taken in the weeks before delivery. For this reason, a baby may be monitored for some time after birth to check for symptoms such as jitteriness, difficulty sleeping and breathing problems.
Alternatives
Are there any alternatives to taking trazodone?
Possibly. Other medicines can be used to treat mental health conditions, so switching may be an option. For some people, talking therapies can be helpful, but this does not work for everyone and some may prefer to take a medicine. If a woman’s condition is well-controlled with trazodone, it may be best to stay on it rather than try something new and risk a relapse.
Ideally, a woman planning a pregnancy should speak to her GP or specialist to determine whether trazodone is still the best option. Similarly, women who have an unplanned pregnancy while taking trazodone should be reviewed at the earliest opportunity by their GP or specialist.
No treatment
What if I prefer not to take medicines during pregnancy?
It is very important that mental health conditions are well-controlled during pregnancy. Discontinuing antidepressant medication can cause symptoms to return and stopping suddenly can cause withdrawal symptoms.
A medicine will only be prescribed during pregnancy if it is absolutely necessary, and a doctor or specialist will be happy to discuss the benefits and any risks.
Please do not stop trazodone without speaking to your midwife, GP, or specialist.
Will my baby need extra monitoring?
All pregnant women in the UK should be offered a detailed anomaly scan at around 20 weeks of pregnancy as part of their routine antenatal care. No extra monitoring for major birth defects is required following trazodone use in pregnancy.
Are there any risks to my baby if the father has taken trazodone?
We would not expect any increased risk to the baby if the father took trazodone before or around the time you became pregnant.
Who can I talk to if I have questions?
If you have any questions regarding the information in this leaflet, please discuss them with your health care provider. They can access more detailed medical and scientific information from www.uktis.org.