Bipolar disorder (types I and II) affect up to 5% of the population in the United States. As the onset of this condition typically occurs during or before the reproductive years, the management of bipolar disorder in women is often complicated by pregnancy. There are concerns regarding fetal exposure to medication, the impact of untreated [...]
Tag Archives: lithium
What’s Safer for Breastfeeding: Lithium or Lamotrigine?
May 4, 2010 – 10:42 am
After last week’s post, we received several comments regarding the use of mood stabilizers in breastfeeding women, specifically asking which is safer: lithium or lamotrigine.
Based on the available data, it is difficult to say with certainty which is “safer”. To date, there has been one report of an adverse event in a nursing infant exposed [...]
Neurobehavioral Outcomes in Children Exposed to Lithium in Utero
July 30, 2006 – 1:17 pm
Driven by concerns regarding fetal exposure to psychotropic medications, many women with psychiatric illness attempt to discontinue their pharmacologic treatment during pregnancy; however, recent studies indicate that this approach may not be appropriate for all women. Dr. Adele Viguera and her colleagues at the Center for Women’s Mental Health have reported that among pregnant women [...]
Can Women Taking Lithium Breastfeed Their Infants?
June 14, 2005 – 6:46 pm
It is clear that women with bipolar disorder are at high risk for relapse during the immediate postpartum period (Viguera 2000). There is evidence that the resumption of lithium prior to or within 24-48 hours of delivery can significantly reduce the risk of postpartum illness (Cohen 1995). While this intervention is the current standard of [...]
Lithium Discontinuation While Attempting to Conceive
February 6, 2002 – 11:21 am
For women with bipolar disorder who are planning a pregnancy, it is common practice to discontinue mood stabilizers prior to attempts to conceive, since the mood stabilizers most commonly used to treat [...]
