citalopram

[Lynda09]

Hi everyone i went to the drs today to inform her me and my partner are ttc. I am on citalopram and have been for a few years as i have chronic fatigue syndrome and it helps my mind to be a bit slower and helps with anxiety and sleep. I asked the dr and ahe said the manufacturers recommend not taking it while pregnant even though theres no research to say it harms the baby. The dr said i should come off it and to go back when im pregnant. Im really scared i think it will cause more stress to come off it i would like to continue taking it. Im on 30 mg but im going to reduce it to 20mg is anyone else if citalopram or similar?

Thanks

Lynda

 

[Jibber Jabber]

I came off it all together before TTC but that was just personal for me.

My BF is taking 20mg a day and she is 22 wks, its not ideal but I don't understand what the point of coming off it altogether and then going back on it is? The withdrawal symptoms wouldn't be worth it.

Try and drop down even as low as 10mg a day, just so its in your system and keeps the withdrawal symptoms at bay. Try not to get stressed about coming off it though - its not the end of the world, at the end of the day the ideal is to mentally be in a position to not have to use them but you don't want to put your life on hold as it can take a good 3-6 months just to come off the tablets alone!

GP's wouldn't be prescribing it to PG women if there was any risk.

 

[Hayz9399]

I was on it for years, and was told to change it to fluoxetine as it's safer for baby.x

 

[Ley]

I have just been changed to sertraline, it is from the same family as citalopram but is totally safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Why not ask about that?

 

[Clgethings]

I've just stopped citalopram as I was on 60mg dAily and I've had a bit of a relapse but mainly withdrawal symptoms from it. I've been put on phenergan 25 mg twice daily to ease symptoms and I've to see consultant to see what he suggests but phenergan is what they use on maternity wards with no effect on baby, Its a hard decision to
make and go through xx

 

[Sweedot]

i was on citalopram too, i took it until 6 weeks and then stopped....i just got worried about the baby, and although it is ok to take in early pregnancy, its not safe to take in the third trimester or whilst breastfeeding, i was told they could move me to something else, but im going to try without for a while, see how i get on!

wish you luck and theres support out there whatever you decide...but i do know there are lower classes of drugs in the same family that are safer to take!

 

[xpensivtaste]

most of the meds mentioned in this post are from a family of chems call SSRI's (selective seratonin reuptake inhibitors) they basically work by resetting your serotonin levels back to normal for people who suffer from anxiety, depression, panic attacks and so on. withdrawal symptoms should not occur as they are not physically addictive, only mentally, so much to say if you suffer from anxiety and rely on these meds to feel better the thought of not taking them will probably make you more anxious. i would have thought tapering down to 20mg than completely stopping, atleast while ttc, or switching to a med thats been thru more vigorous testing in pregnancy although probably not ideal is a better idea....but i'm no doctor.

btw i suffer from a panic disorder and anxiety and after years of trying different medications decided none of them were any good for me and learnt to manage my disorder with relaxation techniques and excersize, diet and what not. something i suggest worth looking into for anyone suffering with mental health problems especially whilst ttc or expecting.
good luck x

 

[Cherrybinky]

I came off mine altogether before TTC as well and to be honest after 9 years on it Id never look back and never go on it again. Good luck x