Q&A: Are Antidepressants Safe?

Most doctors say yes. Antidepressants passed via mother’s milk are generally less risky than being cared for by a depressed mom. Pharmacologist Dr. Thomas W. Hale, author of Medications and Mothers’ Milk, considers Zoloft the “best drug choice so far” since not much winds up in your baby. Paxil is also considered safe. Talk to your doctor about the treatment program that is best for you. And, above all, keep breastfeeding. The health benefits of breastfeeding outweigh the risks of the small amount of these drugs that get to baby.