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I have a mother asking if there is any correlation between Zoloft and Autism. She has a previous child with autism. Just had twins and needs to be on antidepressant. Scared to take Zoloft. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
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Hi, thanks for your post.
The causes of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are not well understood. Current evidence points primarily to genetics. There are a few documented cases of ASD associated with severe prenatal and perinatal complications, but these are believed to be relevant only in the context of a pre-existing genetic predisposition. No psychoactive medication, including Zoloft (sertraline), has so far been associated with ASD in children, even when taken throughout the pregnancy. No psychoactive medication has been associated with any of the characteristic structural changes in the brain that go along with ASD. Zoloft has been used extensively in pregnant and breastfeeding women without any reports of permanent adverse events or changes in behavior. We have good data showing that only 1-2% of the mother's dose of Zoloft is transferred to the infant via breastmilk. We believe that this is too little to have any real effect on the baby.
For anyone reading this, please post again or call us at the InfantRisk Center, (806)352-2519, if this has not completely answered your question. I would also appreciate you filling out a 2 minute survey about your time on the forum:
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-James Abbey, MD
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