Taking antipsychotic medication during pregnancy could put your child at risk for health problems, warns Health Canada.
Antipsychotic drugs are used to treat various mental disorders like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. When mothers take these medications during the third trimester of pregnancy, there is a potential risk of abnormal muscle movements and withdrawal symptoms in the newborn.
"Women taking an antipsychotic and who are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant should talk to their doctor about their treatment," the government agency advised in a statement. "Patients should not stop taking their medication without first speaking to a healthcare practitioner, as abruptly stopping an antipsychotic drug can cause serious adverse events."
As well as informing healthcare professionals and consumers about the risk, the agency is also updating drug labels to include a new warning.
Potential problems in newborns include agitation, abnormally increased or decreased muscle tone, tremor, sleepiness, severe difficulty breathing, and difficulty in feeding.
"In some newborns, the symptoms may go away within hours or days and not require specific treatment, while in others the symptoms may be more severe and require medical attention," explains the Health Canada website.