Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40691283›Full record

SynthesisEuropean journal of clinical pharmacology2025

The effects of trazodone exposure during pregnancy on fetal outcomes: a systematic review.

Britney Glasgow-Osment, Farah Wahib, Shama Kassam, Madeleine Zanin, Facundo Garcia-Bournissen

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in European journal of clinical pharmacology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Britney Glasgow-OsmentSchulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada.
Farah WahibSchulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada. fwahib@uwo.ca.
Shama KassamSchulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada.
Madeleine ZaninSchulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada.
Facundo Garcia-BournissenSchulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeTrazodone, a medication primarily used for anxiety and insomnia, is increasingly prescribed during pregnancy despite limited safety data. This systematic review aims to assess the effects of trazodone exposure during pregnancy on fetal outcomes.

methodsA search was conducted using MEDLINE and Embase databases from the year 2000 to present. Studies were limited to those involving human subjects, published in English, and investigating trazodone exposure during pregnancy. Keywords included "pregnan*," "trazodone," "malformation*," and "birth outcomes." Four reviewers independently extracted data from the selected records. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Data synthesis involved a qualitative analysis to summarize and interpret the findings, identifying patterns across the studies.

resultsFourteen studies met the inclusion criteria. The main outcome measures included fetal and pregnancy outcomes such as congenital malformations, developmental outcomes, poor neonatal adaptation syndrome (PNAS), persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN), congenital heart defects, gestational age, birth weight, stillbirth, preterm birth, spontaneous and therapeutic abortion, and pre-eclampsia.

conclusionThe review found no consistent evidence linking trazodone use during pregnancy to increased risks of congenital malformations, stillbirths, or low birth weight. However, some studies suggested a possible association with an increased risk of spontaneous and therapeutic abortions. Given the limited and varied data, further research with larger, well-controlled studies are needed to establish the safety profile of trazodone during pregnancy. Overall, clarifying the specific risks and benefits of trazodone use in pregnancy will better guide clinical decision-making and improve maternal-fetal health outcomes.

trial registrationPROSPERO number: CRD42024503611.

Indexed as

TrazodoneAbnormalities, Drug-InducedFemaleHumansInfant, NewbornPregnancyPregnancy OutcomeTrazodoneAntidepressive agentsFetal developmentMaternal healthPregnancy outcomeRisk assessmentTrazodone

Identifiers

PMID40691283

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.