Antipsychotic drug use during pregnancy increases risk of some adverse outcomes for mother and baby

Finnish researchers have sought to understand whether second-generation antipsychotic (S-GA) use during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of pregnancy and neonatal complications. Conducted from 1996-2016, the sampling included 1,181,090 pregnant women and their singleton births, categorized into three groups: exposed to S-GAs during pregnancy (n = 4225), exposed to first-generation antipsychotics (F-GAs) during pregnancy (n = 1576), and unexposed. Compared to no exposure, treatment with S-GA agents was associated with increased risk for gestational diabetes (adjusted OR 1.43; 95% CI 1.25–1.65), cesarean section (OR 1.35; 95% CI 1.18–1.53), being born large for gestational age  (OR 1.57; 95% CI 1.14–2.16), and preterm birth (OR 1.29; 95% CI 1.03–1.62). Infants in the S-GA group were also more likely to suffer from neonatal complications. Comparing S-GA users with the F-GA group, the risk of cesarean section and LGA was higher (OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.03–1.51; and OR 1.89, 95% CI 1.20–2.99, respectively), but neonatal complications did not differ between the groups exposed to different antipsychotics. See more information here