citalopram when pregnant!

[emma608]

Hi everyone, I've just found out I'm pregnant and am roughly 5 weeks. I'm really worried as I am currently taking citalopram 20mg dose once a day. I've read up online and are getting so many mixed reviews. Spoken to my Dr and he has advised me to try and stop taking them but really wouldn't feel comfortable doing this. Really need some advice please.

 

[Tink_]

Hi Emma,

Are you in the UK? Sometimes there are specialist psychiatrists who can deal with psychiatric medications in pregnancy and who would be more clued up perhaps than your GP on the safety etc and also how to balance it out with the risks.

It may be worth asking if your GP can contact someone like that x

 

[Dark_Star]

If you know in your heart you would not be ok without your meds then it is more beneficial to stay on something. See if you can be referred to a psychiatrist or other specialist to find the lowest risk medicine for your condition. My doctor recommended I stay on Prozac during my pregnancy, but I was able to quit it and attend weekly therapy instead.

 

[CoralInGold]

I am in the same boat, except I'm on 40mg. The doctors advised me to come off them but said it isn't harmful to stay on them. I've decided to come off them & I'm currently halving them everyday lowering me down to 20mg & then in the next few days when my pack finishes, completely off them.

I can't tell whether they are making me feel different at the moment because I could be mistaking if with pregnancy symptoms. I'm exhausted! Could be a mix of both.

If I get really poorly off them I'll be going back on but for now I'm trying my hardest to stay off them, they say it's harmless but surely no medication is best for a growing baby.

Good luck

 

[tootyfruity]

I have taken them with my last pregnancy and this one (currently 31 weeks) although this time I came off them for the first 8 weeks then started taking them every other day until 12 weeks then everyday since, my doctor said to just do as much as you can which helped to know I didn't have to be off them for the whole pregnancy but suggested to try and be off them the first few months while baby is developing

 

[catmummyof4]

Im on them and these are the only ones iv got on with so i hope im allowed to stay on them or i go bit bonkers! X

 

[Sb86]

I was on fluoxetine as well as three other medications, my GP told me fluoxetine was low risk, but I still came off everything.
The doctor I saw at my 12 week scan told me there are known cases of babies born with heart conditions to mothers who took fluoxetine. He told me about weighing up the risks but, in my opinion and for me personally, I'm not going to die without fluoxetine and therefore there would be nothing for me to weigh up against then health of my baby.

You gotta do what's right for you. Good luck

 

[Dark_Star]

I was on fluoxetine as well as three other medications, my GP told me fluoxetine was low risk, but I still came off everything.
The doctor I saw at my 12 week scan told me there are known cases of babies born with heart conditions to mothers who took fluoxetine. He told me about weighing up the risks but, in my opinion and for me personally, I'm not going to die without fluoxetine and therefore there would be nothing for me to weigh up against then health of my baby.

You gotta do what's right for you. Good luck

The heart defects statistic was why I stopped too... apparently all SSRIS cause increased heart defect risks.

 

[Sb86]

The heart defects statistic was why I stopped too... apparently all SSRIS cause increased heart defect risks.

Scary, isn't it
I was upset that my GP hadn't told me this, I'd be a complete nervous wreck now if Id continued taking it.

 

[emma608]

Thankyou everyone for your comments. I think I'm going to go down to 10mg for a couple of weeks then stop completely if I'm feeling ok. But isn't the first 12 weeks the most important and so shouldn't I just stop completely now?

 

[Sb86]

Thankyou everyone for your comments. I think I'm going to go down to 10mg for a couple of weeks then stop completely if I'm feeling ok. But isn't the first 12 weeks the most important and so shouldn't I just stop completely now?

I stopped cold turkey, because by the time I would have weaned myself off them Id be out of 1st tri..

It's definately not been easy, but I didnt feel like I had much choice.
Withdrawal plus early pregnancy is not much fun, but Im still here - and so is my baby x

 

[Dark_Star]

I chose to stop my meds cold turkey the day of my BFP. I had sweats and shakes and a bit of a headache for a few days, but I couldn't really say those weren't pregancy symptoms.

If you have access to counselling I strongly support it. If you have any history of dangerous depression, anxiety attacks, etc then you will need to be monitored. For some severe conditions, low dose meds are a better choice than cold turkey. Like my psych said "We would rather have a mother-to-be taking pills than a mother-to-be who has thoughts of hurting herself."

 

[Snoopee]

I was taking 60ml of citalopram before my first pregnancy. I came off them cold turkey as I was concerned about risks to the baby. The first couple of months were dreadful as my moods were all over the place with pregnancy hormones not helping. But I was ok after it was out of my system and I started seeing a counsellor once a week which actually helped more than the meds ever did. However, I do understand that for some people meds are an absolute necessity so don't beat yourself up if you need to take them. I know someone who took them through both of her pregnancies and her babies were just fine.

 

[flamingpanda]

I also went cold turkey from citalopram. I was speaking to my doctor about it 2 months ago and she said there was a risk of heart defects (but also insisted if it was best for me then I should continue taking them). For me the risk to the baby was too much and I stopped, now I'm pregnant so really pleased I did. Only you know how well you will cope without them. For me I know I will be up and down but ultimately it means a bit of stress and crying but I'll get through it. I did last time! Perhaps speak more with your doctor before making any hasty decisions, you have to be so careful with anti-depressants.

 

[catmummyof4]

Just to let those of u no that going cold turkey isnt an option (i get violent and nasty) the dr told me the studies wernt conclusive enough to say it is dangerous. Yes you shouldnt take any medicines if u can help it but it isnt proven. I take pregnancy vitamins eat very healthy exercise and take folic acid every day so in some cases it realy is best to stay on them x

 

[meg_bellamy]

I take escotalopram, 15mg a day, and my drs say it is fine. I am suicidal when I'm not on meds, you just have to weigh up the risks and benefits. My Dr said being really stressed out and anxious is more harmful than taking my medication.

 

[catmummyof4]

Same as me meg.. x

 

[CoralInGold]

Anyone that is no longer on them... How long did it take for you to feel 'normal' again. I've weaned myself off them & today was my first day with no medication. I'm feeling really rotten, not emotionally but flu like symptoms, my body aches all over, & dizziness.

 

[Dark_Star]

Anyone that is no longer on them... How long did it take for you to feel 'normal' again. I've weaned myself off them & today was my first day with no medication. I'm feeling really rotten, not emotionally but flu like symptoms, my body aches all over, & dizziness.

About 2 weeks ... but I still don't feel "normal" since my normal for the last 7 years has been medicated.

 

[Kerrie-x]

I was on 20mg.. My GP said as it was a small dose, I could half it to 10mg for 1 week then stop! I did exactly that 3 weeks ago as the risks aren't worth it, also there isn't very much research