Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Antidepressant Drugs: Tricyclics, SSRIs, and SNRIs

Antidepressant Drugs: Tricyclics, SSRIs, and SNRIs

Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs), including Desipramine (Norpramin), Imipramine (Tofranil), Clomipramine (Anafranil), and Amitriptyline (Elavil), inhibit serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake and also block other receptors. They are used for depression, pain conditions, and insomnia. Common adverse effects include anticholinergic effects, sedation, orthostatic hypotension, and weight gain. They have a narrow therapeutic window and so require plasma-level monitoring. Abrupt discontinuation can...

Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents

Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents

Atypical antidepressants, including bupropion (Wellbutrin), mirtazapine (Remeron), nefazodone (Serzone), trazodone (Desyrel), and vilazodone (Viibryd), offer unique mechanisms of action. Bupropion weakly inhibits dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake, aiding depression treatment and smoking cessation, with a low risk of sexual dysfunction. Mirtazapine enhances serotonin and norepinephrine neurotransmission, leading to sedation, increased appetite, and weight gain. As a result, it helps treat...

Antidepressant Drugs: Overview

Antidepressant Drugs: Overview

Antidepressant drugs are a class of medications primarily used for treating various mood disorders, including major depression, anxiety disorders, and other related conditions. These medicines work by modulating the neurotransmitter balance within the brain, alleviating depressive symptoms. Antidepressants can be broadly categorized into several groups according to their mechanism of action and chemical structure: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), Serotonin-Norepinephrine...

Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents

Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents

Sedatives and hypnotics encompass a wide range of substances, each with its unique mechanism of action, uses, and potential adverse effects.
Melatonin congeners like ramelteon (Rozerem) and tasimelteon (Hetlioz) selectively bind to melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2) and thus mimic the actions of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles. Tasimelteon is primarily used for non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder, common in blind patients. They are also used to treat conditions like insomnia...

Upper Respiratory Drugs: Antitussives, Expectorants, and Mucolytics

Upper Respiratory Drugs: Antitussives, Expectorants, and Mucolytics

Respiratory symptoms, such as congestion and cough, commonly accompany respiratory tract conditions. Various medications, such as antitussives, expectorants, and mucolytics, play crucial roles in providing relief.
Antitussives include codeine, dextromethorphan (Robitussin), and benzonatate (Tessalon). Codeine and dextromethorphan exert their effects centrally by suppressing the cough reflex center in the medulla. Benzonatate operates peripherally within the respiratory tract by anesthetizing...

G-protein Coupled Receptors

G-protein Coupled Receptors

G-protein coupled receptors are ligand binding receptors that indirectly affect changes in the cell. The actual receptor is a single polypeptide that transverses the cell membrane seven times creating intracellular and extracellular loops. The extracellular loops create a ligand specific pocket which binds to neurotransmitters or hormones. The intracellular loops holds onto the G-protein.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Supervision and guardianship during drowning fatalities among Canadian youth: An 11-year review of a preventable paediatric public health crisis.

Medicine, science, and the law·2025

Same author

Canadian water-related fatalities: Demographic, situational, and environmental risk factors.

Journal of forensic sciences·2025

Same author

Nanoparticle ultrasonication: a promising approach for reducing bacterial biofilm in total joint infection-an in vivo rat model investigation.

Arthroplasty (London, England)·2024

Same author

Nanoparticle ultrasonication outperforms conventional irrigation solutions in eradicating Staphylococcus aureus biofilm from titanium surfaces: an in vitro study.

European journal of orthopaedic surgery & traumatology : orthopedie traumatologie·2024

Same author

ANalogical UroFlowmetry (ANUF): Correspondence Between This New Visual Pictogram and Uroflowmetry in Men With Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms: A new approach for the study of male micturition dynamics.

Urology·2020

Same author

Congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens (CBAVD): do genetic disorders modify assisted reproductive technologies outcomes?

Archivos espanoles de urologia·2019

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Network Pharmacology and Validation of the Antidepressant Mechanisms of Qiangzhifang in a Chronic Restraint Stress-induced Depression Rat Model

Network Pharmacology and Validation of the Antidepressant Mechanisms of Qiangzhifang in a Chronic Restraint Stress-induced Depression Rat Model

Published on: June 6, 2025

Antidepressant use in pregnancy.

Laura Lorenzo¹, Barbara Byers, Adrienne Einarson

¹Psinapsys Psychiatric Private Center, La Plata, Argentina.

Expert Opinion on Drug Safety

|May 7, 2011

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Antidepressant use during pregnancy is common, affecting up to 20% of women. This review finds no convincing evidence of increased harm, with risks appearing marginal for pregnant women and their babies.

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Network Pharmacology and Validation of the Antidepressant Mechanisms of Qiangzhifang in a Chronic Restraint Stress-induced Depression Rat Model

Network Pharmacology and Validation of the Antidepressant Mechanisms of Qiangzhifang in a Chronic Restraint Stress-induced Depression Rat Model

Published on: June 6, 2025

Area of Science:

Obstetrics and Gynecology
Perinatal Mental Health
Pharmacology

Background:

Depression affects up to 20% of pregnant women.
Antidepressants are an effective treatment option.
Conflicting study outcomes contribute to physician and patient apprehension regarding prenatal antidepressant use.

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate the safety of various antidepressant classes during pregnancy.
To address concerns and fears surrounding antidepressant use in pregnant women.
To provide evidence-based information for informed decision-making.

Main Methods:

Comprehensive literature search using Medline, Embase, and Reprotox databases.
Manual search of retrieved articles and relevant reviews.
Selection of key publications for in-depth discussion.

Main Results:

No convincing evidence of a significant increase in adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with antidepressant use.
Observed risks, even in studies suggesting potential harm, are marginal (odds ratio rarely above 2).
Different classes of antidepressants were evaluated for safety profiles.

Conclusions:

Antidepressant treatment during pregnancy does not appear to pose an appreciable risk for adverse outcomes.
Marginal risks identified in some studies underscore the importance of individualized risk-benefit assessment.
Pregnant women should discuss the risks and benefits of antidepressant treatment with their healthcare providers for informed decisions.