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Updated: Jan 30, 2026

Author Spotlight: Studying the Impact of Maternal Dietary Deficiencies on Long-Term Offspring Health Outcomes
Published on: June 28, 2024
Pregnancy outcomes following maternal venlafaxine use: A prospective observational comparative cohort study
J L Richardson1, F Martin2, H Dunstan3
1UK Teratology Information Service, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle, UK; Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK.
Background:
Venlafaxine is a serotonin noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor used to treat major depressive episodes and anxiety disorders. The primary aim of this study was to investigate spontaneous abortion risks following gestational exposure.
Methods:
This prospective observational comparative cohort study utilised data collected by the UK Teratology Information Service (UKTIS) between 1995 and 2018. The study sample included 281 venlafaxine exposed pregnancies matched to antidepressant unexposed (n = 1405) and SSRI exposed (n = 843) comparator groups.
Results:
After correction for variation in competing outcome rates and the stage of pregnancy at reporting, no statistically significant differences in the hazard of spontaneous abortion was observed following gestational venlafaxine use compared with either antidepressant unexposed (HR 1.28, 95% CI; 0.850-1.94) or SSRI exposed (HR 1.03, 95% CI; 0.681-1.57) pregnancies.
Conclusions:
No conclusive evidence is provided from this study that venlafaxine increases the risk of adverse pregnancy or fetal outcomes.
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