Antipsychotic Use During Pregnancy and the Risk of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to review the current literature examining a potential relationship between the use of antipsychotic drugs during pregnancy and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

METHODS

PubMed was searched for English language reports between January 1, 1996, and March 31, 2018, by using combinations of the following key words: antipsychotics, pregnancy, FGAs, SGAs, GDM, obstetric outcomes, pregnancy outcomes, obstetric complications, maternal complications, clozapine, olanzapine, risperidone, aripiprazole, amisulpirde, ziprasidone, quetiapine, haloperidol, chlorpromazine, zuclopenthixol, and flupenthixol. Studies but not case reports, case series, or reviews published in a peer-reviewed journal were eligible for inclusion.

RESULTS

A total of 10 relevant studies that met the review criteria were examined. Data from these studies indicated that the prevalence rates of GDM in pregnant women using antipsychotic drugs and the nomedication group were 2.6% to 22% and 0.95% to 10.7%, respectively. Most comparative studies reported that antipsychotic treatment during pregnancy was not significantly associated with increased in risk of GDM. In addition, the study results also suggested that underlying maternal psychopathologies might affect the risk of GDM.

IMPLICATIONS: Findings from some studies suggesting a higher risk of GDM in pregnant women who were administered antipsychotic drugs were not confirmed by results of many other studies. The current evidence suggests no significant relationship between antipsychotic drugs, including second- and first-generation antipsychotics, and the risk of GDM.