# Pharmacokinetic profiles of sertraline in pregnancy as a predictor of postpartum depressive symptoms

## TL;DR

This study found that how the body processes sertraline during pregnancy can predict postpartum depressive symptoms.

## Contribution

The study identifies pharmacokinetic profiles of sertraline and its metabolite as predictors of postpartum depressive symptoms.

## Key findings

- Sertraline and its metabolite showed variable pharmacokinetic profiles during pregnancy and postpartum.
- Higher postpartum exposure to sertraline was linked to lower depressive symptoms, while higher metabolite exposure was linked to higher symptoms.
- Therapeutic monitoring of sertraline may help identify women at risk for postpartum depression.

## Abstract

To characterize pharmacokinetic changes of sertraline and its metabolite during pregnancy and postpartum, and their relationship to maternal postpartum depressive symptoms.

This was a prospective observational, longitudinal study of pregnant women with a major depressive disorder treated with sertraline (N = 185 women, 205 pregnancies). Women were enrolled at <16 weeks' gestation and followed at 4‐8 week intervals throughout pregnancy and the first postpartum year. Baseline measures included structured clinical interviews and demographic information. Drug and metabolite concentrations and psychometric measures (study outcomes) (ie, Hamilton Rating Scale for depression – 17 item, Beck Depression Inventory, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale [EPDS], Clinical Global Impression [CGI]) were measured at follow‐up visits. Serum sertraline and N‐desmethylsertraline exposure were reported asstandardized 24‐h concentration‐to‐dose (C/D) and parent to metabolite (P/M) ratios. Linear mixed‐effects and latent trajectory models were used to characterize longitudinal patterns in concentration measures across pregnancy and postpartum, and their association with study outcomes.

Mean 24‐h C/D ratios showed high variability throughout pregnancy and postpartum that were characterized by three trajectories for sertraline and five for N‐desmethylsertraline and P/M ratio corresponding to different sertraline pharmacokinetic profiles. At postpartum, sertraline drug exposure was inversely associated with higher EPDS score (P < .05), while N‐desmethylsertraline exposure was associated with higher scores for all measured depression scales (P < .001). Higher P/M ratios had higher CGI scores (P < .05) postpartum.

Sertraline pharmacokinetic profiles varied across pregnant women and were associated with postpartum depressive symptoms. The use of therapeutic monitoring may provide clinical insight that can be useful for identifying patients with a potential toward depressive symptoms.