Transient Neonatal Jitteriness due to Maternal Use of Sertraline (Zoloft®)

Abstract

We describe the occurrence of marked jitteriness and an enhanced startle response in a term infant after being exposed to sertraline in utero. An umbilical cord blood sample taken at the time of birth showed a sertraline concentration (<10 ng/mL) below the reference range. On the third day during the peak of the symptoms, sertraline plasma concentration was <10 ng/mL, while his serotonin level (6 ng/mL) was below the reference range. The neurologic symptoms resolved by the fifth day. To date, there are no reports of transient neonatal jitteriness with maternal use of sertraline documented with low cord and neonatal plasma samples consistent with withdrawal syndrome.

Effects of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors and Venlafaxine During Pregnancy in Term and Preterm Neonates

“…21 Several studies and case series associated these antidepressants used near term to neonatal complications. [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30] To ensure that mothers were really taking their medications, we used several methods of verification, including pharmacy and medical charts. In our cohort, paroxetine was used in the majority of the cases.…”

Medication Use in Pregnancy; Treating the Mother: Protecting the Unborn

“…The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been in clinical use for the last two decades and are generally regarded as safe in pregnancy, in terms of dysmorphology and in neurodevelopmental measures (Koren and Nordeng 2012). The selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI) -for example: venlafaxine, duloxetine, desvenlafaxine -and Tricyclic antidepressants (TCA) are also considered safe Moses-Kolko et al 2005;Santos and Pergolizzi 2004).…”

Medicines For Women

“…The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been in clinical use for the last two decades and are generally regarded as safe in pregnancy, in terms of dysmorphology and in neurodevelopmental measures (Koren and Nordeng 2012). The selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI) -for example: venlafaxine, duloxetine, desvenlafaxine -and Tricyclic antidepressants (TCA) are also considered safe Moses-Kolko et al 2005;Santos and Pergolizzi 2004).…”