Pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility while taking quetiapine - Brand names: Atrolak, Biquelle, Seroquel, Sondate, Zaluron

Quetiapine and pregnancy

There's no good evidence that taking quetiapine in early pregnancy will affect your baby.

Taking it in the weeks before delivery may sometimes cause withdrawal symptoms in your newborn baby. However, these symptoms do not last long. Your baby will be checked after they're born and given extra care if needed.

You may be more likely to develop gestational diabetes if you take quetiapine during pregnancy. For this reason, you may need to have your blood sugar levels checked.

It is important that mental health conditions are well treated since these can affect both your and your baby's wellbeing. Good treatment is important because sometimes symptoms of a mental health condition can get worse during pregnancy and after your baby's born.

Speak to your doctor if you become pregnant. They will help you decide on the best treatment for you and your baby.

Quetiapine and breastfeeding

If your doctor or health visitor says your baby is healthy, you can take quetiapine while breastfeeding.

Quetiapine passes into breast milk in tiny amounts and is unlikely to cause any side effects in your baby.

It's important to keep taking quetiapine to keep you well. Breastfeeding will also benefit both you and your baby.

If you notice that your baby is not feeding as well as usual, seems unusually sleepy, or seems irritable, or if you have any other concerns about your baby, talk to your health visitor, midwife, pharmacist or doctor as soon as possible.

Quetiapine and fertility

Quetiapine can affect hormones in up to 1 in 10 women. This sometimes causes problems with periods.

It can also cause sexual problems in men and women, although this is uncommon and affects less than 1 in 100 people.

If you're trying for a baby, then talk to your doctor if you have any of these problems or if you're worried.

For more information about how quetiapine can affect you and your baby in pregnancy, visit the Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy (BUMPS) website.