PPD / Anti depressants while pregnant

[Lois22]

Hey

I asked this question on the general pregnancy section when I was TTC.

Near the end of my first pregnancy I got really bad postnatal depression and then it kept getting worse until at 7 months past having my daughter. I changed doctors and she knew was it was straight away. She prescribed me 20mg Prozac everyday. Since taking it, I feel normal again! Better than normal! I've always suffered anxiety problems but just got much worse after giving birth.

I'm still on them now but been trying to take every other day. I did go to a student doctor as my doctor wasn't working that day. He was a dick and didn't really have any answers for me. I'm going to go see my normal doctor tomorrow.

Is anyone else taking them or has during pregnancy? I'm so scared to stop as I still need to work and take care of my daughter. I can't go back to the wreck I was. Or anything my doctor could change me on to?

Thanks

 

[pandi77]

Not taking any but have had close family who did and the nuggets are fine. Here's a link about this that might interest you.

https://www.mayoclinic.com/health/antidepressants/DN00007

 

[KimmyLou]

I'm on citalopram and took it through my last pregnancy and my son is fine. I have been told by my gp that it's perfectly safe to keep taking them x

 

[Hoping4peanut]

I have a friend who stayed on her anxiety meds all through pregnancy. They just switched her to one that was safer for baby. Baby is fine.

I went off mine in April before ttc and since getting pregnant I actually WISH I was still on them. The worry and anxiety has been overwhelming at times mixed with the hormones.

I am glad you are going to doc to discuss it. I think if the benefits outweigh the risk then you and your doc might decide together it's best to stay on them. Like I said, I wish I had stayed on. But make sure you chat with doctor and obgyn especially about it to make a decision you all feel comfy with.

Best of luck. If you need to chat I am here. Hugs!

 

[Lois22]

Thank you that link was very helpful xx

 

[Gizzyy]

I'm on Setraline ( Zoloft) I'm also worried :/ but my doctor never seems concerned about it as I'm not on a very high dose.

 

[Blissfully_Me]

Prozac is one of the most commonly prescribed antidepressants, and one of the oldest, so it has what is considered a "safe" profile for use in pregnancy. I am taking an antipsychotic and two antidepressants, and have been assured that they are "safe". Of course, they can never say for certain because most of these medicines have not been trialled in pregnancy, however the fact that they are so commonly prescribed and there are so many positive outcomes is a good sign. Please don't try to reduce your dose without your doctors advice, as you could relapse. The general consensus is if the benefits outweigh the risks, then you should continue to take them, or be switched to a safe alternative if you're taking one of the risky ones (which you're not). Xx

 

[Zooy]

I'm on citalopram and took it through my last pregnancy and my son is fine. I have been told by my gp that it's perfectly safe to keep taking them x

So glad to hear this! I was put on citalopram after my first baby, she checked with Motherrisk. I'm still on it and we figured the benefits far outweighed any risk.

 

[KimmyLou]

I totally agree. After my son I had to stay in hospital for 48 hours as some babies can have withdrawal symptoms from some anti depressant meds. They even told me that there would be no problem but in this day and age, they had to cover their backs x

 

[Lois22]

That's the another thing that worries me as I had a home birth with Emilia. I'm guessing I won't be allowed another if I'm on Prozac?

I went to the doctors this evening. She said that Prozac is one of the longest used anti depressants, that 1000s of women use it during pregnancy. She said it is a really low risk of it effecting the baby, but obviously they prefer you not to be on it. I said I'd been taking it every other day and now haven't for 3 days.

She said I can carry on and see if I can get off it. She doesn't want me to go back to square one though. I can either take it every other day, every two days. I might try every two days, then three.

I'm also on amitriptyline 10mg for migraines. I was on this in my last pregnancy and she said it was also fine to stay on that.

Xx

 

[KimmyLou]

Hopefully they'll let you have a home birth this time even tho you are on Prozac. They are all for home births so maybe they won't bother to much especially Prozac is one of the best to be on in pregnancy.
I have to be in the hospital under consultant care so your situation may be different x

 

[bettybee1]

Don't want too preach but maybe goto your docter and try and get some CBT yes drugs are fantastic and help a lot off people but also a lot of people on meds could be helped by directly hitting the problem that causes your anxiety ?

You say you have anxiety now that escalates into depression because of your fears rather than been just low if you get me

I think if Axienty is your main issue too try and get some counselling write down what triggers it and try and over come it's hard very hard but eventually a lot of people can be cured for ever

Me personally have had very bad anxienty it's not nice I have always chosen not too take stuff as that scares me even more . I saw a counsellor and I faced my fears and my worries head on and I have slowly got better !

I always get nervous still and rarely have panic attacks but the feeling of been low with it has been lifted xxx


Citoplram is the one they give in preg I think good luck x

 

[hmusgrove]

Hi! I was on paxil when I first got pregnant, they switched me to a safer medicine (Zoloft) I am being watched a little more closely and have had 2 ultrasounds already to check on the baby, but so far so good. I don't know if I could handle not taking my meds! I feel so horrible when I'm not taking them. I am still really worried and will be until the little bean is here, but my doctor isn't really concerned and even the specialist said she's never had any babies born with a defect due to anxiety medicines taken while pregnant. I think you'll be ok, but I'm worried too so I can't tell you not to be worried !

 

[justhoping]

i wouldnt do every other day or every third day, you can give urself more symptoms and heavier depression by messing with a dose ur supposed to have to help...
making u either worse or end up on even a higher dose to even you out in the long run..

I would take it every day to keep urself healthy.
the mental health of you is as important as physical and ur babies health...many anti depressants are safe for pregnancy and its safer if u need it to be on then not to be on and then not be as healthy as you could be...
sever post paRDUM depression is not good and its what u can what u will be risking if u play with the dosage

 

[Lois22]

I just feel so guilty taken both tablets everyday . I'm probably ok without them now as my daughter is 16 months. Just they make me feel amazing xx

 

[bettybee1]

dont feel guilty about anything !!!! think thats the problem people have with them is that they make them feel so good they dont want too get rid off them

can you see your docter too try an wean off them completly and see how you feel ? x

 

[Lois22]

Yeah I posted about what my doctor said on the bottom of the first page

Xx

 

[bettybee1]

sorry didnt see it i think thats a good idea if you can if you get very bad you can go bcak on it as you know it works for you x

 

[justhoping]

I have always taken my meds and seen someone to talk too..

some people have anxiety and depression that is not just triggered, its an actual chemical problem that the meds to help..

if someone had cancer you wouldnt tell them not to take the medication...to me its the same thing....

are there any support groups to join with moms who take meds...maybe they can help you out not only with anxiety but with the guilt ur feeling about having to take the meds while pregnant..

im very sure your doctor wouldnt let u stay on anything that would hurt you or ur baby...

i wish u all the best hun

xx

 

[Lois22]

Thank you

Xx