Getting off antidepressants

jannaj86

I'm 6 weeks pregnant and have not been on my antidepressants for 5 days I'm extremely emotional and hungry all the time but end up throwing up all the food I ate. I'm tired all the time and can't stand to smile. I was so happy when I found out that I was pregnant but now I'm worried about my anxiety. Has anyone tried to get off of pills when they are pregnant. I'm doing this cold turkey I don't want any risk to my baby that is why I'm getting off. Is there a light at the end of the tunnel? I'm desperate I feel I will never be my happy self again. Help

marathonmommy82

Cold turkey is really really hard, especially if you suffer withdrawal symptoms. Is your doctor monitoring you? Also FWIW I was on Lexapro with my first and with this pregnancy and every was/ is fine.

jannaj86

I am on cymbalta and welbutrin and I didn't wanna take any risks my husband and I are so terrified of birth defects. I'm so glad your child was ok . Do u ever go back to feeling like yourself after pregnancy I feel like a totally different person. What's fwiw?

KittyMu82

Are you amping up the cognitive-behavioural therapy that you are getting? (or getting any at all?)

jannaj86

I'm not doing anything at all. Just trying to survive work. I'm a manager at mcdonalds and was the most positive person at my work now I'm the most negative . I'm out of school at the moment I don't even know how I will get through that when I start up again.

KittyMu82

Hmm - well if you can afford it (I don't know if you guys get government support for this or not) you really, really should get a referral to a clinical psychologist who does CBT - it will be very beneficial for both your depression and your anxiety. 

jannaj86

Yea it's so hard to decide thanks so much for the help you guys I appreciate it

slindell85

I have bipolar and tapered off very slowly the two riskier meds I was on before I was preg. I'll be staying on my lamictal the whole time and on effexor and the last couple weeks before delivery. Remember if you're stressed then the baby is stressed. I went to see a perinatal specialist and they really helped calm my fears that I would be at some huge risk for birth defect.

jannaj86

I'm bi polar too. I've never heard of a perinatal specialist def need to check that ok then too. I'm extremely stressed so much I've noticed my breasts shrinking when they seemed to b developing normally a few weeks ago. When you got off Ur meds did you gain weight quickly I feel like I've gained five pounds in 5 days since I've been off my meds it's not good to gain weight quickly like this and I'm worried. How far along are you?

cookinggirl15

I'm 6 weeks and went off Zoloft three weeks ago. It's rough I gained 8 lbs, but after the first week I stopped gaining weight. I asked my dr and I'm in therapy now, and feeling better.

jannaj86

Oh god thank you there is some light at the end of the tunnel thank u so much for your insight

myatala

Definitely check in with your doctor and discuss medication. I worked out a plan with my ARNP prior to TTC to eliminate some of my medications and reduce dosage of others. I have Bipolar II with anxiety and I'll continue to take my Lamotrigine (Lamictal) and Paroxetine (Paxil) during TTC and pregnancy (and then adjust meds again in 3rd tri in anticipation of breastfeeding). For me, the benefits of the medication outweigh the potential risks, but this is a decision only you and your doctor can make. Do know that there are MANY medications regarded as reasonably safe during pregnancy and being unmedicated can pose its own risks to the fetus, so it's important to weigh the risks and benefits of each option.

If your doctor tells you no psychiatric med is safe during pregnancy, I would get a second opinion from a psychiatric med specialist like a psychatrist who actually knows what they're talking about. You deserve not to be horribly symptomatic during pregnancy, and taking care of your mental health during pregnancy will hopefully help you avoid major postpartum mood issues.

babyW15

I stopped my MEDS ( trileptal, latuda, and Ativan) cold turkey. I am an ARNP (not psych) and I consulted a pharmacist that I work with and all my MEDS were ok to stop cold turkey, so I did. I talked to my psych dr the next week and he said that what I did was OK. DBF says I am a much better person off the MEDS then when I was on them. My psych said to just increase my therapy appointments while pregnant. I do feel much better and don't feel like a zombie anymore. I would consult with your doctor and see what s/he says. By the way Prozac is safe for pregnancy. GL

jannaj86

I'm doing a little better everyday is a struggle. I'm going to my doctor tomorrow to talk with her again. I've been so hungry getting off these meds I've gained 5 pounds in 5 days it's insane I don't get it.

Absolutkm1

I'm on lexapro just got a positive pregnancy test. My doctor knew we were trying and said it was safe to be on while pregnant.

febmom4

How many mg of Zoloft do you take?

SandraRDH

I would not recommend trying to come off of the Cymbalta cold-turkey while pregnant. I dealt with Cymbalta withdrawal symptoms for over 8 months. I had to do a very systematic and slow tapering of my dosage over an 8 month period and can tell you it was an absolute nightmare and was one of the hardest things I've had to deal with. I had constant nerve zaps, headaches, brain fog, body aches and pains, severe mood swings, restless legs, and insomnia. When I say it took me 8 months to come off of it, I was literally opening up my capsules and counting out the number of pellets within each one to take to get the proper dosage (because Cymbalta only comes in standard dose amounts and you can't cut them in half to get less).  It was work and I was mentally unstable during that period- but it would have been SO much worse without letting my body adjust slowly. So no, I would not recommend doing it cold turkey, it is especially too much on your body while pregnant. You have to remember that dealing with the symptoms of not having your medication (especially cold turkey) could be worse on you than taking them in the first place. I will say though, now that I am on the other side of it all, I feel SO much better, more clear headed and with it again, I'm like a new person! Feel free to private message me, I could tell you lots about this!

jannaj86

Omg I have those symptoms too it's crazy I feel lik it will never go away

kristinat0807

Going off cold turkey is rough. I knew I was going to start trying so I slowly got myself off of Paxil. A friend of mine stayed on her medication during pregnancy and baby was totally fine..She says that is why he is such a chill baby hahahha!! Good luck and I hope that you feel better asap

Cailin12345

Please don't come off cold turkey. That can and depending on the med be worse for the baby. I'm being titrated down on a medication I take. I was a pharmaceutical rep for years. As soon as I got the bfp I asked the specialists about the meds. Good luck hon. I know it's hard.

jacqueleen1

Do not stop your medication cold turkey. You need to wean off them slowly. It could be worse for the baby if you stop cold turkey than taking them 

Meery82

shinyredsmartazz said:

I'm still on Zoloft. The benefits outweigh the risks for me with my anxiety. I was monitored by a high-risk specialist for a while just to make sure the meds weren't having an effect on his development. All docs tend to have different opinions, but mine told me Zoloft was one of the safer meds to stay on and that of children who do have issues after they are born, the majority just have some issues adapting to a nursery environment. That small risk against how bad my anxiety can get was enough to convince me to stay on. As PPs have said, never quit any medication cold turkey without a doctor's supervision.

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@shinyredsmartazz‌ , what do you mean about trouble adapting to a nursery environment? Leaving them in their crib alone?

Chrbar06

Idk what your therapist would say but I did an at home program for anxiety and depression that I swear by. Its called the Midwest center for anxiety and depression. This has the cognitive behavioral aspect to it and even has a relaxation cd. Just know your not alone in this xoxo @jana_86‌

mangomimosa

(re-posting my own post from March '15)

I went off Lexapro for the pregnancy because I felt I could manage my anxiety with exercise and proper diet. So far (just while TTC) I've been ok. If I have to go back on meds during the pregnancy I will be (really, really) upset, but I will do it. 

Most OB's prefer Zoloft in pregnancy. It's by far the most widely used SSRI in pregnancy and thus has earned the unofficial safety badge. However most SSRIs are considered to be relatively safe (EXCEPT PAXIL) as long as benefits outweigh risks. There is the possibility of neonatal withdrawal which you should be aware of, and if you plan to breastfeed it can help reduce the withdrawal. 

I did my thesis on anxiety/stress in pregnancy--so this is one of my soapboxes. Whatever decision you make, understand that there are risks of untreated anxiety/depression in pregnancy as well as risks of using SSRI's. You are not making a decision about taking a risk or not. You are deciding which risk to take.

Untreated anxiety/depression in pregnancy has been linked to preterm labor, preterm birth, and low birthweight. The magnitude of the effect is **as large as smoking in pregnancy**. There are dozens of recent, well-designed studies on this topic. Prenatal anxiety is also a risk factor for postpartum depression. In my opinion, anxiety/depression that is serious enough to affect your quality of life/sleep is serious enough to be treated in pregnancy. If you can keep it under control with behavioral things like exercise, good sleep, biofeedback, meditation, yoga, etc -- make a habit right now & stick with it! Some studies have shown some promise for these strategies in reducing anxiety & improving birth outcomes. But if not -- talk to your OB about benefits/risks of starting back on meds. Good luck!