UAE mums-to-be urged not to stop taking medication

Women should not stop medication for mental health issues when they become pregnant without seeking professional guidance, say doctors.

Dr Veena Luthra, a consultant psychiatrist at the American Center for Psychiatry and Neurology (ACPN) in Abu Dhabi. Ravindranath K / The National

ABU DHABI // Doctors have urged women who have been prescribed medicine for mental health issues not to abandon the treatment when they fall pregnant without first seeking the advice of a specialist.

Many medications, such as antidepressants, are safe to use during pregnancy but some women are unaware of this and stop treatment out of fear for their unborn child. That can be disastrous, said Dr Paul Bosio.

The repercussions of stopping some medication – treatment for bipolar disorder, for example – could have serious consequences, he said.

“There have been many suicides and deaths worldwide because of it,” he said. “The general rule is if you need the medication, stay on it.”

Dr Bosio said education was needed for clinicians and patients.

“We certainly see patients who have been inappropriately advised or have made assumptions. So there is a whole area for education. The only way of doing this is establishing a dedicated service.”

Consultant psychiatrist Dr Veena Luthra agreed.

“Many pregnancies are unplanned and may occur while women are receiving treatment with medications for psychiatric disorders,” she said. “Stopping antidepressants during pregnancy increases the risk of depression both in pregnancy and the postpartum period.”

Doctors should provide information on the benefits and risks to mothers-to-be and their unborn child associated with drug treatments at each stage of pregnancy, she said.

Dr Bashir Salih said sometimes husbands did not allow their wives to get professional medical help for mental health issues.

Pregnant women sometimes “just refuse” to accept mental health treatment, he said.