TTC on anti-depressants?

[abic77]

hey ladies,

Am exeriencing horrendous symptoms (won't bore you) but they are leading to depression. That coupled with the fact that i don't seem to be ovulating, is sending me back down a slippery slope into depression.

I came off Citalopram in Dec 2010 (because i wanted to conceive ironically!) but no joy yet....i wonder if some of the depression type feelings are causing me to not ovulate what with the stress etc of it all. I'm not stressed about conceiving as i was earlier this year as the other feelings (have some pretty nasty symptoms but after millions of tests no-one know what it is!) To be honest its typical menopause symptoms (headaches, flu-type flushes, fuzzy vision, foggy head, problems concentrating etc) but is making my life a misery!

Anyway am thinking of going back on the anti-d's (citalopram) and wondered if anyone else is on anti-d's and if there;s any do's and don't's you know of....apparently its safe for baby until the 3rd trimester at which point i can come off them (if i'm lucky enough to get pregnant!)

I would add too that my cycle has been all over the palce (12 day period, a 37 day cycle and a 72 days cycle and only 1 +OPK but couldn't make use of it as hubby was away!)

Any help/advice or just some feedback or someone to talk to would be great!

xxxx

 

[MurphyTaylor]

Hi abic77

I'm on Citalopram at the minute and I've been wondering practically exactly the same thing but was too ashamed to ask to ba honest

I've wanted to ask if anyone knows any problems that Citalopram may cause when TTC (if it has any adverse affects, etc). I also wanted to know if it would be harmful to baby when the day my BFP finally arrives so I thank you for stating that above!

I hope someone with a bit more knowledge posts on here as I'm just as curious to know as you are, what with it being a very important medication.

It's good to know that I'm not the only one with this 'problem' though so I thank you again for being braver than me and posting a thread about it

Sending your way!

Kayleigh x

 

[Maidenet]

I'm ment to be on citalapram and an anti phycotic as I have a personality disorder. I spoke to my Dr and they advised if I'm trying for a baby I should come off them xxx

 

[Maidenet]

I think they said it can damage the foetus x

 

[Brosey]

Hi hun, I'm on prozac (fluoxetine)
and all I know is that I need to stop taking them in my last month of pregnancy, if I don't the baby will suffer withdrawals. So I either put up with the baby's first week of life being terrible, or I just stop taking it in the last few months.
Maybe you could try fluox this time? It doesnt harm the foetus or anything xx

 

[karleyflower]

I'm on that ad, read some things online saying its ok but I'm not 100% I'm going to ask Dr when I next go, but I'm worried she will say why on earth are you ttc when your not 100% but then I think thats just me being silly, and I'm saying that with regards to myself and how I feel I'm not trying to imply anything to anyone

 

[fairy_gem]

I take 40mg Citalopram and found this on the NHS website:

https://www.nhs.uk/medicine-guides/pages/MedicineOverview.aspx?condition=Depression&medicine=citalopram hydrobromide&preparation=Citalopram 40mg tablets

 

[Raincloud]

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The antidepressant citalopram (Celexa) may be used cautiously in pregnant women, according to a report from Canada. The researchers report no excess birth defect risk, although an increased risk of "poor neonatal adaptation syndrome" was seen with late use of the drug.

Symptoms of poor neonatal adaptation syndrome include jitteriness, irritability, eating and sleeping difficulties, convulsions, vomiting, and low blood sugar; these symptoms are usual transient and not life-threatening.

Overall, the researchers say, "our data suggest that pregnant women who require pharmacotherapy with citalopram may continue their treatment during pregnancy with close monitoring of their condition by a qualified medical professional."

Previous studies investigating the safety of citalopram during pregnancy failed to demonstrate an increased risk of birth defects, the authors further explain in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Nevertheless, some women choose to discontinue their drug therapy during pregnancy out of fear of harming the unborn child.

Anna Sivojelezova and colleagues from The Hospital for Sick Children and the University of Toronto, Ontario, investigated whether citalopram use during pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, including birth defects and neonatal complications, in 396 women.

The researchers report in that among 108 women exposed to citalopram during the first trimester, only one baby was born with a major malformation, a case of umbilical and scrotal hernia necessitating surgical correction.

The rate of perinatal complications after third trimester exposure to citalopram was not increased over that in women not exposed to citalopram, but the risk of neonatal intensive care unit admission increased fourfold.

The investigators believe that the increased rate of neonatal intensive care unit admission may have resulted from an increased incidence of poor neonatal adaptation syndrome, which has previously been reported after late pregnancy exposure to citalopram and other so-called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). However, more study is needed to prove this mechanism beyond doubt, the authors say.

"In summary," the team writes, "our findings do not support an association between citalopram with any major teratogenic risk in humans."

SOURCE: American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

 

[BH040]

hey ladies,

Am exeriencing horrendous symptoms (won't bore you) but they are leading to depression. That coupled with the fact that i don't seem to be ovulating, is sending me back down a slippery slope into depression.

I came off Citalopram in Dec 2010 (because i wanted to conceive ironically!) but no joy yet....i wonder if some of the depression type feelings are causing me to not ovulate what with the stress etc of it all. I'm not stressed about conceiving as i was earlier this year as the other feelings (have some pretty nasty symptoms but after millions of tests no-one know what it is!) To be honest its typical menopause symptoms (headaches, flu-type flushes, fuzzy vision, foggy head, problems concentrating etc) but is making my life a misery!

Anyway am thinking of going back on the anti-d's (citalopram) and wondered if anyone else is on anti-d's and if there;s any do's and don't's you know of....apparently its safe for baby until the 3rd trimester at which point i can come off them (if i'm lucky enough to get pregnant!)

I would add too that my cycle has been all over the palce (12 day period, a 37 day cycle and a 72 days cycle and only 1 +OPK but couldn't make use of it as hubby was away!)

Any help/advice or just some feedback or someone to talk to would be great!

xxxx

Just wondering if you are aware the many of the symptoms you just described are symptoms of fibromyalgia???????? And those symptoms can lead you to depression??? I dont have depression but I do have fibro and feels like i constantly have the flu, it comes and goes but some days I have a HORRIBLE time trying to concentrate or remember anything I did even a half an hour ago (like your mind is in a fog). Horrible body aches, headaches, personally my hands and feet swell although that's not supposed to be a symptom...my hands hurt so bad some days that I can't hold a utensil to eat with...... horrible troubles sleeping and staying sleep as well.... so you may want to ask your doc, and or take an online quiz about your symptoms to see if you may be experiencing it.... Other than that I have nothing for you! My OH is in Citalopram.... they said he has to stay on it though.... and we haven't been able to conceive as of yet either....

 

[WannaBAMom]

Hey everyone,

I'm glad to see this post and read what others have found. I've been taking citalopram for years, as well as wellbutrin for the last year or two. My doc's aware that I'm ttc (and is fully supportive--why wouldn't she be?--it's just depression. Karleyflower--if your doc has a problem with you ttc with depression, you need to find another GP).

My doctor says that there's no evidence that citalopram will cause any birth defects or such and said that she recommends that I stay on them while ttc and the first trimester of pregnancy at least (so I stay emotionally stable)--and I agree, I don't know how I'd cope with my stressful job otherwise.

however, the wellbutrin is not good and she's given me the option of staying on them till I get pregnant or to stop them now and increase the citalopram. Originally i stayed on them but I've gone off them now and will slowly increase my citalopram because I don't want to risk harm to a baby if/when I get pregnant.

Hope that's helpful...my honest advice is to do what makes you most comfortable, as long as it doesn't harm the babe--I think it's better to be stable and well when trying to get pregnant and when you are initially pregnant for the sake of both you and the babe. But talk to your doctor, he/she will know best about your health (next to you).

Good luck everyone!

 

[sequeena]

Hi I TTC'd whilst on anti depressants. I went through lots of different ones, citalopram, prozac and others. I fell pregnant on 75mg Venlafaxine I came off them straight away and managed most of my pregnancy without them but I'm now on 10mg paroxetine which is safe for pregnancy and breast feeding



I don't think anti depressants had anything to do with me not conceiving earlier

 

[Luv_My_Bichon]

Hi,

I was on Cipralex for about 3 years due to one thing and another happening in my life which meant I just couldn't cope. However, now I am so so desperate for a child that i went back to my Doctor to discuss this with him. I have seen 2 doctors and they have conflicting views.

The first Doctor said absolutely no to TTC whilst in Cipralex (escitalopram NOT citalopram) and put me back on my pill! He said I needed to get off my antidepressants before I could TTC.

Long story short - I am 32 and so utterly desperate for a baby that I went back to another (lady) doctor who said that you have to weigh up the mental health of the mother against anything else and as I was so distraught about not being able to TTC she changed me onto Citalopram. I had a "wash out" phase and started the new ones. She had done a lot of research (and I had too) about the effects of Citalopram on a pregnancy and the general consensus seemed to be that there wasn't a huge risk and again you have to weigh this against the mother's health and the urge for a child being a contributary factor towards depression (which 3 years on from the original reason I went on them it definitely was!).

I started on them but they just set my IBS off terribly!

So, off back to the (male) Doctor and we agreed I would come off them altogether, which I have now done and am thankful that after a few weeks of foggy headed withdrawal symptoms and total lethargy I am managing (and TTC) off them.

Anyway....hope this is helpful in some way. The Dr told me that Citalopram was better than the newer drugs (which I was on originally) and more is known about them, hence why the female doctor put me on Citalopram.

 

[abic77]

Hi ladies,

Firstly thank you so much to all of you for your replies and your honesty....i didn't realise how many of us are in a similar position! I kinda felt that i was this 33 year old woman who just wants a baby but needs some anti-d's to help me too and everyone i look i think that it's not fair that they don't feel like this.....it just shows how many people are feeling like this and we probably don't even realise it! We need to give ourselves a big fat hug and remind ourselves we are just human and normal and should be proud to be us!!

Anyway...update....I went to see the Dr again yesterday and he was very supportive of me going back on citalopram....he explained that there is a tiny bit of research to show that there have been a handful of cases whereby the baby's heart can be affected, however he also said that there's tons of women who have had very heathy babies! So he basically said go on the med, get me back to happy (and hopefully that will start me ovulating again!) and then if i get pregnant to start to taper off straight away!

I would always taper after the last experience i had when i went cold turkey and went thru hell of withdrawal for almost 4 weeks!!!

Keep smiling girls and please keep in touch! xoxoxo

 

[Coogee]

thank you everyone this information is really helpful. I'm going to start TTC next week and I'm on 20mg Citalopram. It has been such a worrying topic for me.
Good luck to you all!!!! x

 

[Maidenet]

Weird how each Dr says different.... I was on 40mg twice a day and I got told to come off it straight away if I was trying to concieve..... xx

 

[abic77]

[/QUOTE]

Just wondering if you are aware the many of the symptoms you just described are symptoms of fibromyalgia???????? And those symptoms can lead you to depression??? I dont have depression but I do have fibro and feels like i constantly have the flu, it comes and goes but some days I have a HORRIBLE time trying to concentrate or remember anything I did even a half an hour ago (like your mind is in a fog). Horrible body aches, headaches, personally my hands and feet swell although that's not supposed to be a symptom...my hands hurt so bad some days that I can't hold a utensil to eat with...... horrible troubles sleeping and staying sleep as well.... so you may want to ask your doc, and or take an online quiz about your symptoms to see if you may be experiencing it.... Other than that I have nothing for you! My OH is in Citalopram.... they said he has to stay on it though.... and we haven't been able to conceive as of yet either....[/QUOTE]

Hey chick,

Thanks for your help with the horrid symptoms....i was thinking about fibro and to be honest lots of the symptoms match up to those of fibro EXCEPT for the achy muscles thing....the only aches i've had are in my head and neck/shoulders(a bit like tension....I was thinking it was just tension headache but the other symptoms i have are more than just the tension headahce....let's face it you don't really get brain fog just from a tension headache (especially when i exercise, took a holiday and also had a massage to relax me!)...it does still make me wonder.....

how is your TTC journey going? How long have you been trying?

xoxo