Management of Bipolar Disorder in Pregnancy and Postpartum: A Clinicians’ Guide

Abstract

Medication management in women with bipolar disorder (BD) in the perinatal period is challenging, given that many patients taper or stop medication during pregnancy, and the postpartum period is an extremely high-risk period for relapse. The objective of this narrative review was to investigate the perinatal efficacy as well as potential adverse effects on the child of common treatments for bipolar disorder. These treatments include lithium, lamotrigine, other antiepileptics, quetiapine, olanzapine, aripiprazole, other antipsychotics, antidepressants, benzodiazepines, Z-drugs, and other sleep medication. Despite the worldwide decline in lithium use, it remains the gold standard for acute and maintenance treatment of BD, and we continue to advise its use in women of reproductive age. In contrast, medications with a high risk for teratogenicity such as valproate and carbamazepine should be avoided in women of childbearing potential. Women with bipolar disorder are at very high risk of relapse after delivery, but this risk is more than twofold lower with adequate pharmacological prophylaxis. We advise to make a written perinatal bipolar relapse prevention plan in collaboration with the patient, family, and healthcare professionals, which includes a description of: (1) maintenance treatment during pregnancy, (2) preferred mode of delivery, (3) medication immediately after delivery and the first months postpartum for relapse prevention, (4) preferred plan for feeding (breast-feeding versus bottle-feeding), (5) strategies to assist women in ensuring adequate sleep and stable circadian rhythm in the first weeks after delivery, and (6) how to recognize the first symptoms of relapse and which intervention strategies to take.