Category C

• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classifies Lexapro as a pregnancy Category C drug. This means that pregnant women should take it only if the benefits outweigh potential risks to the unborn baby.
  
  

Complications

• The FDA has received reports of fetal complications related to Lexapro use that required babies to be hospitalized with respiratory assistance or tube feeding. These reports involve exposure to Lexapro during the third trimester.
  
  

Symptoms

• Specific problems reported include agitation, breathing difficulties, constant crying, feeding difficulty, insomnia, irritability, lack of oxygen in the blood, seizures and tremors.
  
  

Withdrawal

• These effects on the newborn are likely withdrawal symptoms, as anyone taking Lexapro is advised not to discontinue it suddenly.
  
  

Blood Pressure

• Babies exposed to Lexapro in the second half of pregnancy are at increased risk of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN). This disorder involves extremely high blood pressure in the pulmonary artery of the heart, and it can be life-threatening.