Is It Safe for My Baby? - Antipsychotics

(e.g., risperidone (Risperdal®), olanzapine (Zyprexa®), quetiapine (Seroquel®), clozapine (Clozaril®), loxapine (Loxapac®), haloperidol (Haldol®), fluphenazine (Moditen®))

Risks During Pregnancy

• It is potentially dangerous for you and your baby to not treat a psychotic disorder or other condition.
• If used in high doses close to delivery date, the baby may be born with temporary breathing difficulties and/or withdrawal symptoms (e.g., restlessness, sleep problems, feeding problems). But there are many ways to minimize and/or manage the short term symptoms that may occur. The baby should be watched closely.
• Older antipsychotics, such as haloperidol, are safe, but there is less information available about the newer medications (e.g., risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine, clozapine).
• Clozapine may pose some risk to the unborn baby, but this risk must be weighed against the risk to the unborn baby if your disorder is untreated.

Recommendations During Pregnancy

• Do NOT stop antipsychotic medications, as your symptoms could return.
• Ask your doctor about the safest type of antipsychotic medication to take while pregnant.
• Ask your doctor about dose requirements in each trimester.

Risks During Breastfeeding 

• Antipsychotic medications pass into breast milk and, depending on the dose, may cause drowsiness in the baby.

Recommendations During Breastfeeding

• Do NOT stop taking your medication. The period following childbirth is a vulnerable time for women taking antipsychotics. Doses may need to be increased rather than decreased at this time.
• Ask your doctor about the safest type of antipsychotic medication for breastfeeding.
• It may not be a possibility, but ask your doctor if you can time your dose with breastfeeding times, lower the dose of the drug, or use a short-acting drug immediately after a feeding.
• If you are taking clozapine, both you and your baby should be carefully monitored.

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