Posted by Toby on August 20, 1998, at 11:17:57
In reply to olanzapine (zyprexa), posted by lucas bell on August 20, 1998, at 10:37:41
Zyprexa is classified as Category C by the FDA which means that no malformations have been seen in rat studies but that no real information is known about humans. The doses that were given to pregnant rats were between 9 and 30 times the recommended dose for humans and no problems occurred. During the clinical trials for Zyprexa, 7 human pregnancies occurred with 2 normal births, 1 newborn died of heart malformations, 3 women had abortions and 1 miscarriage. Currently there is no evidence that the miscarriage or the heart malformation was caused by the Zyprexa, they just have to be reported because it happened during the clinical trial.
Typically the antipsychotic medications are quite safe in pregnancy although the higher potency ones are preferred (like haldol or prolixin). All antipsychotics are excreted in breast milk so breast feeding is not recommended.
The older antipsychotics (which would include all of them except Clozaril, Risperdal, Zyprexa, Seroquel and Cytalopram) CAN cause (although they don't usually) up to 6 months of extrapyramidal symptoms which include increased muscle tone, excessive crying, reflexes that are too strong, and problems with blood pressure. Due to the fact that these medications are processed through the liver, the baby may get jaundiced early on. Thorazine is not recommended due to a high risk of a fall in blood pressure in the mother during the last 2 weeks of pregnancy which can harm both mother and newborn.
Definitely talk to her OB/GYN and psychiatrist. The risks of going off the Zyprexa may be greater to both mom and baby (there are many horror stories of delusional moms who hurt themselves and their baby but more often the risk is because a mom who is pscyhotic may not be able to properly take care of herself and thereby harm the child) than the risks of the medication to the baby and there's no current evidence that Zyprexa would harm the child.
Good luck to all three of you.
poster:Toby
thread:331
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19990301/msgs/332.html