HealthWise KnowledgeBase
Tricyclic Antidepressants for Postpartum Depression
Why It Is Used
Tricyclics are an older class of antidepressant that has been well studied for Reference postpartum depression Opens New Window treatment. Nortriptyline and imipramine are passed on to breast-feeding infants at very low levels.
Doxepin (Silenor, Zonalon) is not considered safe while breast-feeding.
Tricyclics may cause bothersome side effects. This is why tricyclics are usually tried only when treatment with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) hasn't worked well. But if you have done well with a tricyclic in the past, talk to your doctor about using it for postpartum depression.
| By: | Reference Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: May 14, 2012 |
| Medical Review: | Reference Patrice Burgess, MD - Family Medicine
Reference Lisa S. Weinstock, MD - Psychiatry |
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