title: Infant health and neurodevelopmental outcomes following prenatal exposure to duloxetine.
abstract: Maternal psychiatric disorders can have negative consequences on the fetus and newborn. Thus, the risks of untreated mental disorders in pregnancy should be balanced against the potential risks of a psychopharmacological treatment. The aim of the present report is to provide information on the infant safety of duloxetine exposure, an antidepressant drug belonging to the serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, during pregnancy. Despite duloxetine being routinely prescribed as a treatment for major depression and anxiety disorders, there is a paucity of literature evaluating both the short- and long-term effects of duloxetine exposure in utero. This paper provides data on infant health and neurodevelopmental outcomes, up to 9 months of age, in a newborn exposed to duloxetine throughout pregnancy. Although the present report suggests that duloxetine was not associated with major malformations or neurobehavioural problems, the drug should be used with caution until further information is available on its safety profile in pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatric Unit and DEGRA Centre, United Hospital of Ancona and Academic Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Polytechnic University of Marche, Via Conca, 71, 60020, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Cesario
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bellantuono
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marini
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lucarelli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects*; D002657:Child Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D000068736:Duloxetine Hydrochloride; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D011247:Pregnancy; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D013876:Thiophenes; D000068736:Duloxetine Hydrochloride