Question

A 34-year-old pregnant woman has been diagnosed with severe depression. She has no history of depression or pharmacological treatment for mental health conditions. Which of the following does the nurse expect to see prescribed?

1 sertraline (Zoloft)
2 Amitriptyline (Elavil)
3 Tranylcypromine (Parnate)
4 Venlafaxine (Effexor)

Answer 1

Sertraline (Zoloft), an SSRI, is expected to be prescribed for a pregnant woman with severe depression because of its safety profile and effectiveness in increasing serotonin levels in the central nervous system.

Step-by-step explanation:

For a pregnant woman diagnosed with severe depression, sertraline (Zoloft) is typically the most expected medication to be prescribed by healthcare providers. Sertraline is one of the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), a class of medications known for their efficacy in treating depression by blocking the reuptake of serotonin, thus increasing its levels in the central nervous system. The choice of sertraline in particular is due to its relative safety profile and efficacy. SSRIs like sertraline are generally preferred over other antidepressants because they have fewer anticholinergic side effects. While other antidepressant categories such as tricyclic antidepressants, exemplified by amitriptyline (Elavil), and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAO inhibitors), such as tranylcypromine (Parnate), are effective, they are not typically the first-line treatment during pregnancy due to higher risk profiles.