Question by Bumblesnortapus: How can a doctor prescribe an antidepressant to a pregnant woman, knowing the risks to the fetus?
First, let me clarify some things. I am 100% pro-choice. I also work in the medical field and am well aware that a developing fetus is basically, a parasite inside the mother. I get it, and am not trying to bring up legal rights of a fetus. That being said, I’m also well aware that ALL MEDS are prescribed with the mother’s best interest in mind over the developing fetus, as it should very well be. Depression however, is different. I have my minor in Psychology and have suffered boughts of depression, so I get that, too. However, if the woman chooses to not abort her fetus, is currently taken an antidepressant (all antidepressants are pregnancy catorgory X or D), how can the prescribing doctor feel it’s best to keep the mom on the medication? First, the mom-to-be should take responsibility and abort the fetus, if her depression is so bad that her treatment will cause harm to the developing fetus, but I’m aware that religious reasonings, ect make some feel abortion is wrong. So now this woman is pregnant and also on a med that harms the fetus. Why not wean the woman off of the meds, and if needed, hospitalize her for suicidal tenencies, IF it gets that bad, until the child is born?
But depression really doesn’t have any severe issues if left untreated, besides risk of self harm. If the female patient desides to not abort, then she shouldn’t be permitted the meds to harm the fetus, since depression isn’t a life threatening issue, like heart disease or COPD, unless the patient is suicidal, and that’s where the psych ward stay, comes into effect.
Antidepressants were NEVER meant to be used long term, either. Regardless of the “lifers” out there, these meds cause harm to the users, as well as the unborn fetus’.
Please remember antidepressants are NOT prescribed for schizophrenia,ect. Those meds are called “antipychotic medications.”    Read more...