Impact of Antidepressant Medication on Lactating Women and Infant Health

Around 10% of pregnant and postpartum women globally suffer from depression, with the incidence of postpartum depression ranging from 10% to 15%. Besides, about 50% to 80% of postpartum women exhibit varying degrees of depressive symptoms following childbirth. And epidemiological data demonstrate that the global prevalence of postpartum depression is 17.22% (95% confidence interval: 16.00-18.51). Despite the effectiveness of antidepressants in relieving depressive symptoms, their use in breastfeeding women may result in transfer via breast milk, potentially affecting infant health. Therefore, this paper presents a review of the safety of using antidepressants during breastfeeding, with a focus on the permeability of different antidepressants in breast milk and their potential risks to infants. The results indicate huge differences in the concentrations of various medications in breast milk, with some drugs exhibiting higher permeability, which may negatively impact infant health. As such, in clinical practice, healthcare professionals should carefully select an antidepressant treatment plan for breastfeeding women according to the pharmacokinetic properties of the drug and the physiological characteristics of the infant, so as to minimize potential risks to both maternal and infant health.