{"id":18254,"date":"2021-02-02T09:00:50","date_gmt":"2021-02-02T14:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=18254"},"modified":"2024-09-25T10:15:46","modified_gmt":"2024-09-25T14:15:46","slug":"zoloft-and-breastfeeding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/zoloft-and-breastfeeding\/","title":{"rendered":"Does taking Zoloft and breastfeeding affect your baby?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The postpartum period is challenging for all new moms, but no matter what your well-meaning friend or mother-in-law tells you, feeling extremely anxious or depressed after giving birth isn\u2019t \u201cnormal.\u201d Fluctuating hormones, dramatic life changes, intense stress, and debilitating sleep deprivation can all converge in those early weeks to create a perfect mental health storm, leaving some women with more than just the baby blues.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Affecting about <\/span>10% to 15% of new moms<\/span><\/a>, postpartum depression (PPD) and postpartum anxiety (PPA) are real mental health conditions that require intervention, support, and treatment.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you or someone you know is struggling after giving birth, therapy can help\u2014but many of these moms need medication, too. For some healthcare providers, <\/span>Zoloft<\/span><\/a> (sertraline) is a strong candidate for treating breastfeeding women with depression or anxiety. This may be partly because Zoloft is a relatively<\/span> low-risk option for treating these conditions during pregnancy<\/span><\/a> (under a provider\u2019s supervision, of course).<\/span><\/p>\n

But is Zoloft safe during breastfeeding? How much can you take? And are there other ways to treat PPD and PPA while nursing your baby? Here\u2019s what you need to know.<\/span><\/p>\n

Is Zoloft safe to take while breastfeeding?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

For the most part, yes: Zoloft is a safe antidepressant to take while breastfeeding, according to <\/span>G. Thomas Ruiz<\/span><\/a>, MD, OB-GYN lead at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf you have to medicate someone with postpartum depression or anxiety [who is also nursing], most doctors will go to Zoloft first,\u201d he says. \u201cIf you have to use an antidepressant in that case, it\u2019s the safest one.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Of course, that safety recommendation comes with a caveat\u2014as does any other recommendation about<\/span> using medication while pregnant or nursing<\/span><\/a>. Because pregnant and nursing mothers are often excluded from clinical trials, there isn\u2019t usually a wide body of evidence pointing clearly to a drug\u2019s safety or lack thereof. This means there\u2019s always a chance that a drug could affect your baby.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere is a [scarcity] of data on the neurodevelopmental effects on the infant from breastfeeding while on Zoloft,\u201d says<\/span> Kecia Gaither<\/span><\/a>, MD, a double board-certified OB-GYN and maternal fetal medicine physician and director of perinatal services at NYC Health + Hospitals\/Lincoln.<\/span><\/p>\n

Basically, there isn\u2019t any evidence of harm…but there also isn\u2019t any studies proving that the drug is definitely <\/span>safe<\/span><\/i>, either.<\/span><\/p>\n

That doesn\u2019t mean you should panic if your doctor suggests prescribing you Zoloft to manage PPD or PPA while breastfeeding. Many of the most common concerns about how Zoloft can affect your baby or your milk supply are unfounded.<\/span><\/p>\n