Depression/Anxiety Medication

sarah0825 · June 2011

Is any one taking depression medication? I am on Zoloft right now and we want to start trying to conceive in a few months. I have an appointment next week with my family Dr because this medication doesn't seem to be working. Just wondering what is working for everyone.

Kirsten.In.NH · June 2011

Different medications work differently for everyone. I had great success on a very low dose of Celexa, but my problem is mostly anxiety, not depression. It honestly was a huge life-saver. It's a controversial drug during pregnancy, so I stopped taking it and I feel pretty good (I think pregnancy hormones do very good things for me). I would definitely talk to your doctor and tell him/her that you want to TTC because that will make a difference in what they recommend for you to try next.

Some SSRIs (which Zoloft and Celexa are, I believe) have been connected with heart problems if taken while pregnant. It's all about risk/benefit, because if you are going to be a wreck without it, the risk might be worth it to keep YOU healthy. You might also want to consult with your OB after talking to your PCP - because OBs are really the ones who are most up to date on the latest research, etc.

Good luck, I hope you find something that works for you.

babyflynn08 · June 2011

I am on Zoloft for anxiety. My OB is perfectly fine with it. Most anxiety/depression meds are listed as a class C drug....meaning that they don't know the total consequences of this drugs on the baby.

rcanales · June 2011

I take anxiety meds. My Dr stopped prescribing them when I told her I was TTC. She said I can't take them while pregnant so it was best not to take them while TTC.

rcanales · June 2011

I'm always curious where some Dr's get their info/opinions... Mine told me absolutely not to my anxiety meds. Yet others feel its just fine.

Waiting4myJulyBaby · June 2011

I took zoloft while pregnant for my son (and he's as healthy as can be) and have been prescribed it again this pregnancy. I had started taking a different medicine in between pregnancies but it is not safe for 3rd trimester so I stopped taking it as soon as I found out I was pregnant this time so I wouldn't have trouble going off of it in my 3rd trimester. I felt like the effects of zoloft weren't as great as they were when I first started taking it, but I'd rather take that and feel decent then nothing at all.

ArielleRuti · June 2011

I have bipolar, and my psychiatrist took me off Abilify... it's too new to know the effects it would have on a fetus, but she said that Paxil and Prozac could be alternatives which have more research conducted on the effects they'd have on a fetus. I would talk to your doctor before you begin TTC, and don't do what I did, and show up to an appointment with her and say "well, I was too impatient to find a drug that worked, and guess what? I just took a pregnancy test, and I'm PREGNANT!!" Because at that point, they'll just take you off everything cold turkey, and you'll feel like crap. Trust me, you don't want that!!

Kflie83 · June 2011

Yep, I'm on Prozac for anxiety. When my Dr suggested it I kind of flipped out saying I wouldn't go on. Prozac has always just seemed so scary to me. I am sooo glad I finally listened and took it. DH noticed a difference in just a few days and so did I! It's also safe during pregnancy. Take care of yourself and good luck!

Zoloft really didn't work for me at all, and I think Prozac is one of the only meds like this that are approved for pregnancy.

Sascha3 · June 2011

I take Celexa. I am on a very low dose. I tried to go off but felt so sick and anxious that I just continued. Dealing with the morning sickness and withdrawal sickness were pushing me over the edge. It is a category C drug which may be linked to some very rare birth defects.The risks were so low that I decided to take the risk rather than to feel completely stressed and anxious all the time, which seems to be a greater risk to the baby.

Griff · June 2011

This topic has been a big one for me. I'm 7 weeks and on 75mg of Zoloft. I was on 150mg when I found out I was pregnant. We were TTC for 2 years and getting on a safer drug and getting on as low as of a dose that I felt comfortable on was an objective the whole time and still is. My fertility specialist asked me to consider getting off it and trying Celexa. My med dr said that I was fine where I was. The only thing I have heard associated with Zoloft & pregnancy is lower birth weight which doesn't not mean long term effects. Pregnancy hormones and the progesterone that they have me take daily have helped keep my mood very good. It all an individual decision. What has happened has really just evolved as I have gone along. Hope that helps a little. I know it's not an easy decision.

Sascha3 · June 2011

Griff...that is interesting about your fertility specialist recommending Celexa. My friend who is TTC was told by her psychiatrist that Zoloft was one of the safest, even moreso than Celexa. I decided to just stay with Celexa as it worked for me and my dose is so low. Ahhh...so many different opinions out there.

ThePrincessAndTheBumblebee · June 2011

I see a psychiatrist who works very closely with my OB throughout pregnancy to make sure that the baby and I both stay healthy.

I had to be taken off of my anxiety medication (Xanax can cause birth defects) and tried Buspar but it didn't work for me, so I'm going this with zero anxiety medication. That's been really hard, but I keep telling myself it's only 9 months and actually my anxiety symptoms have gotten BETTER now that I'm pregnant. Thank god!

All I take now is my antidepressant. I take Pristiq, and I love it. It works very well for me with very few side effects and is in a "safe" class of medication for use during pregnancy. During the last 4 weeks of my pregnancy I will be weaned off the medicine so that when the baby is born it won't feel any withdrawal symptoms. Immediately after birth I can take it again.

I am planning to breastfeed, my doctors said the medication won't pose a problem if I take it in the morning, wait 4 hours, pump the milk and dump it out. Then it's clean for the rest of the day. I'll just have to keep some (clean) pumped milk ready in case baby gets hungry during those hours (and s/he will!)

Good luck finding the solution that works for you!

Depression/Anxiety Medication

Re: Depression/Anxiety Medication

Choose Another Board

Search Boards