A new study from Australia shows that using anti-psychotic drugs during pregnancy ups risk of preterm birth, respiratory problems and withdrawal symptoms in babies.
Low doses of the mood-stabilizing drugs don't harm the babies. However, large doses of anti-psychotic medications can up risk of birth complications, researchers at Monash University found.
Anti-psychotic drugs are used to treat mental conditions such as schizophrenia, major depression and bipolar disorder.
"There's been little research on antipsychotic medication during pregnancy and if it affects babies. The lack of data has made it very difficult for clinicians to say anything conclusively on how safe it is for babies," said Jayashri Kulkarni, principal investigator of the study.
The study was based on 147 women, enrolled in the National Register of Anti-psychotic Medications in Pregnancy. The women were interviewed every six weeks during pregnancy and were followed till their babies were one-year-old.
Researchers found that in the study group 18 percent babies were born prematurely, 37 had respiratory distress and 15 percent had withdrawal symptoms.
"This new research confirms that most babies are born healthy, but many experience neonatal problems such as respiratory distress," Kulkarni said in a news release.
Use of anti-psychotic drugs has lowered crime rates. But, researchers are still trying to find the effects of these drugs in pregnancy. A recent study had found that pregnant women who take these medications are at a higher risk of developing diabetes and that their babies are more likely to require special medical attention.
The study is published in the journal PLOS ONE.