WTT'ers on medication

[Genie]

Hi everyone. I'm new here and just wondered if there are any other WTT'ers on medication. I was diagnosed with epilepsy a few years ago and have been on anti-convulsants ever since. My consultant suggests I stay on the meds when conceiving as in his opinion the risks if I have a fit are greater than the risk of any problems with the baby. I would have to agree really as the main event leading to my diagnosis was a fit while driving leading to a nasty car crash so I'm aware of the types of dangers if I was to stop the tablets. There have only been 200 mothers give birth whilst taking my medication so far in the UK, and although none of these babys have had obvious problems which is encouraging, its still a worry as 200 isn't a very high number. So my question really is are there any other people out there who are in a similar postition??
Thanks for any replies.

 

[plutosblue]

Hi Genie, I take Citalopram to control my anxiety and panic attacks, it isn't concidered 'safe' during pregnancy but at the same time is isn't concidered a danger (in other words they don't have enough evidence either way to make a revised judgement). My Doctor wants me off them by April so I can TTC, but its going to be a weaning process and I'm a little apprehensive about the whole plan. If I can't stay off them she says we will tackle that when we come to it, its sort of a toss up between me staying in control and having a relaxed and stress free pregnancy (which will benefit baby) against whether it will pose any immeduate danger.

Bah can't win

 

[Genie]

I understand exactly what you mean about it being a balance. Unfortunately I think the dangers of a fit outweigh anything else for me. Your doctor sounds very understanding, good luck.

 

[MrsN]

Hi, I'm in a similar situation.

Im on steroids at the moment for a eye disease, and we were planning on TTC next summer, however it might be that Im still on the steroids then, so obviously not a good idea to get pregnant. Its a bit of a pain as we cant really plan for the future as such, but you just have to think that your health is important, and most Drs do know what the're talking about so we have to try and trust what they say.

Hope all works out for you xx

 

[mummy3]

I have epilepsy and have been on lamotrigine throughout my last 2 pregnancies this was swapped from carbamazepine which I was on for my first pregnancy. My first daughter was born with a facial birth defect associated with my meds which is why I swapped. I believe Lamotrigine is considered much safer in pregnancy/ breastfeeding and definately worth taking as a seizure is not a risk I would take.
Maybe speak to your specialist and see what advice they give
Good luck x

 

[Genie]

Thanks for your replies guys. Its good to know there are others out there in the same position.

 

[Kess]

Hi Genie, I take Citalopram to control my anxiety and panic attacks, it isn't concidered 'safe' during pregnancy but at the same time is isn't concidered a danger (in other words they don't have enough evidence either way to make a revised judgement). My Doctor wants me off them by April so I can TTC, but its going to be a weaning process and I'm a little apprehensive about the whole plan. If I can't stay off them she says we will tackle that when we come to it, its sort of a toss up between me staying in control and having a relaxed and stress free pregnancy (which will benefit baby) against whether it will pose any immeduate danger.

Bah can't win

I could've written your post! I'm also on citalopram for panic attacks, and my Dr (and OH) wants me off them before TTC. I'm down to 10mg (from 20mg) but struggling. The stress of the wedding, and possibly the fact it's winter, are causing problems, even though I thought I'd stabilised on 10mg.

We've decided I'm not reducing the dose any further until after the wedding, and unfortunately that means putting off TTC from right after the wedding to a couple of months after. I'm trying to decide whether to go back up a little, to 12.5mg perhaps as I'm struggling atm. It takes me about 2 weeks to stop getting withdrawal symptoms each time I reduce the dose, so at 2.5mg increments I could be off them by the time it was June (wedding April 9th).

 

[plutosblue]

I could've written your post! I'm also on citalopram for panic attacks, and my Dr (and OH) wants me off them before TTC. I'm down to 10mg (from 20mg) but struggling. The stress of the wedding, and possibly the fact it's winter, are causing problems, even though I thought I'd stabilised on 10mg.

We've decided I'm not reducing the dose any further until after the wedding, and unfortunately that means putting off TTC from right after the wedding to a couple of months after. I'm trying to decide whether to go back up a little, to 12.5mg perhaps as I'm struggling atm. It takes me about 2 weeks to stop getting withdrawal symptoms each time I reduce the dose, so at 2.5mg increments I could be off them by the time it was June (wedding April 9th).

I go down to 10mg's at the end of (on 20mg atm) December and I'm not too sure what to expect really.. Well done for going down a dose, and theres no shame in going back up a little, I'm sure I will be bumping up and down like a yoyo trying to keep mentally stable.. Are the withdrawals reasonable when going down a small dose? Since I've heard some serious horror stories
Congrats on your upcoming wedding!

 

[TacoTurtle]

Genie, my mother was diagnosed with epilepsy when she was thirteen, and has been taking medication for it since. However, she's had three kids, and she took her medication throughout each pregnancy, and we've turned out great!

 

[Genie]

Tacoturtle, thanks, thats really good to know! x

 

[Kess]

I go down to 10mg's at the end of (on 20mg atm) December and I'm not too sure what to expect really.. Well done for going down a dose, and theres no shame in going back up a little, I'm sure I will be bumping up and down like a yoyo trying to keep mentally stable.. Are the withdrawals reasonable when going down a small dose? Since I've heard some serious horror stories
Congrats on your upcoming wedding!

I wouldn't go from 20mg to 10mg in one go, tbh. I dropped in 2.5mg increments, and even then had some withdrawal symptoms. The symptoms were reasonable. One incremental drop I was dizzy, it looked like the floor was moving. That lasted a few days, annoyingly. Another, I was feeling naseous, but never actually vomitting. Another was at the same time as PMT (badly timed there, Kess!) so I couldn't tell you which out of what I was feeling was withdrawal and which was hormones! I had a bit of diarrhoeia the other time. All okay, and by no means certain for you. My Dad was on citalopram for a short time, on 40mg, and he stopped cold-turkey with no problems. But he was only on it a short time.

 

[plutosblue]

I wouldn't go from 20mg to 10mg in one go, tbh. I dropped in 2.5mg increments, and even then had some withdrawal symptoms. The symptoms were reasonable. One incremental drop I was dizzy, it looked like the floor was moving. That lasted a few days, annoyingly. Another, I was feeling naseous, but never actually vomitting. Another was at the same time as PMT (badly timed there, Kess!) so I couldn't tell you which out of what I was feeling was withdrawal and which was hormones! I had a bit of diarrhoeia the other time. All okay, and by no means certain for you. My Dad was on citalopram for a short time, on 40mg, and he stopped cold-turkey with no problems. But he was only on it a short time.

See my doctor said if I go cold turkey she will tell me off bigtime.. and shes scary

I think I will give the drop to 10mg a go.. and then slowly go from 10mg to nothing.. it sounds a little scary but I am determined to get off them by April and I have the idea of a family to concentrate any swaying efforts on.. I didn't have many side effects going onto them apart from some dizziness so hopefully it will be the same coming off. Fingers crossed for meeeeee

 

[xxJennaBearxx]

i take Lexapro augmented with beupropreon (sp?) for sever anxiety. i also take neuronton at night for a sleep disorder. i know that when i ttc one day i will have to come off of them but the thought of it scares me because i dont want to go back to the way i was with all the panic attacks and such.

 

[livestrong]

I take Sertraline and Risperidone for depression/BPD. I have been on meds for depression for about 4 years now and definately don't want to be on them when TTC. So fingers crossed by then I will not need to take them.

 

[Kess]

See my doctor said if I go cold turkey she will tell me off bigtime.. and shes scary

I think I will give the drop to 10mg a go.. and then slowly go from 10mg to nothing.. it sounds a little scary but I am determined to get off them by April and I have the idea of a family to concentrate any swaying efforts on.. I didn't have many side effects going onto them apart from some dizziness so hopefully it will be the same coming off. Fingers crossed for meeeeee

Yeah, my Dad's Dr probably would've told him off, if he hadn't done it without telling anyone while he was on holiday. Silly man.

Funnily enough, I had no side-effects at all when starting them, even though I was silly enough to read the leaflet beforehand so was expecting all sorts! (How stupid is it that suicide is a side-effect of an antidepressant medication?!)

Fingers crossed here for you!

 

[rubyrose]

I was on lamotrigine with archie and his fine had no seizures it was after the birth i had probs i lost lots of blood and meds stopped working but lamotrigine is considered the safest...Im now on keppra which is the next one considered safest i know sodium valporate is meant to have the highest risk. I took 5mg of folic acid through the whole pregnanc xxx

 

[xsophiexleax]

I'm on naproxen for arthritis which I'm pretty sure I can't take while pregnant :\ pregnancy's gonna be paaaaainful!