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Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the lactation status and prevalence of use of psychotropic medications in perinatal psychiatric patients. Methods: Clinical data collated for a period of 8 years were retrospectively retrieved from patient registers. The sample included a total of 263 postpartum patients who were followed up for at least 4 weeks. Psychiatric diagnoses were ascertained by a structured clinical interview. Results: The most commonly administered psychotropic medications were paroxetine (43.3%), sertraline (31.9%), olanzapine (12.2%), and quetiapine (6.1%). Of the 242 patients who received psychotropic medication, 41 (16.9%) discontinued breastfeeding. The discontinuation in most cases was not due to psychiatrist's recommendation or adverse events due to medications. Conclusion: Paroxetine and sertraline are frequently used by postpartum psychiatric patients in our clinical sample. In addition, the results suggesting that most psychiatric patients included in this study can continue breastfeeding during pharmacotherapy should be confirmed by data derived from further clinical samples.

Schizophrenia and related psychoses are characterized by high recurrence rates and a serious impact on social functions. Many patients with these conditions, therefore, require prophylactic treatment during the postpartum period. Antipsychotic medication is the main treatment strategy for these disorders. Compared with single use of antipsychotics, data on the safety of combined antipsychotics on the breastfed infants are very limited. The current report presents adverse events in an infant exposed to a combination of risperidone and haloperidol through breast milk.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), especially sertraline and paroxetine, are first-line antidepressants in the treatment of postpartum depression in breastfeeding women as these drugs are well tolerated by most breastfed infants. Although some women with these diagnoses require additional antidepressants to SSRIs, the safety of combined usage of SSRIs and mirtazapine is currently unknown. This report includes short-term safety data of breastfed infants exposed to paroxetine plus low-dose mirtazapine.

Postpartum depression is frequently observed in women. First-line antidepressants in treatment of postpartum depression are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Although SSRIs are well tolerated by most breastfed infants, some adverse events may arise in exposed infants. This report presents the case of an infant of a breastfeeding woman using citalopram without any problem after sertraline and paroxetine were discontinued due to adverse events in the infant.

Sleep problems are frequently seen during the postpartum period. Some mothers need to use sedative agents for insomnia. Amitriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant that has sedative effects. Despite no adverse reports, data on safety for the maternal use of this medication on breastfed infants are limited. This case report presents severe sedation and poor feeding in the breastfed baby of a woman using amitriptyline at 10 mg/day.

Objective: Primary pharmacological agents for depression and anxiety disorders are antidepressants, especially selective serotonine reuptake inhibitors. The aim of this study was to examine the features and prevalence of adverse effects of paroxetine and sertraline in breastfed infants., Methods: The study had a retrospective cohort design. Five-year clinical data of 72 patients were included in the study. Psychiatric diagnoses were ascertained by means of the Structured Clinical Interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition., Results: The prevalence rate of adverse events in the infants was 12.5%. Insomnia (88.9%), restlessness (55.6%), and constant crying (22.2%) were the most frequent adverse events. A switch between paroxetine and sertraline performed in five patients, who reported an adverse event in their breastfed infants, resulted in cessation of the adverse events., Conclusion: The results suggest that the prevalence rate of adverse events in the infants exposed to sertraline or paroxetine is relatively low and mostly mild.