ABSTRACT
Women are currently bombarded with advice about what is harmful to the fetus. They know that smoking and alcohol can affect the development of the baby, and they take care to have a healthy and balanced diet, avoiding foods such as soft cheeses which may carry a risk of intrauterine infection. Normal changes in maternal physiology during pregnancy may affect maternal absorption, detoxification and excretion of drugs of any kind. In comparison with the adult, the blood supply to the brain and the blood-brain permeability is higher in the fetus, leading to more complete exposure of the fetal brain to maternal drugs. There appears to be no direct effect of psychotropic drugs on fertility, but haploid cells and minor chromosomal abnormalities have been reported with thioridazine and lithium. The interpretation of studies of anticonvulsants in pregnancy is difficult, since many patients are taking a combination of drugs.
