Anti-Anxiety/Depressants while pregnant?

selby.nippert

Has anyone taken anti-anxiety medication/anti-depressants while pregnant? What are your thoughts on taking medications for this during pregnancy? I've talked with my doc off and on about it and he is says it is okay to go on some medications. I just want to see what others have done. 

circe811

I've opted not to be on an anti-depressant/anxiety medication during my pregnancy. There are risks involved with taking these medications during pregnancy and in my particular situation, my anxiety/depression is not enough for me to warrant the risks. That being said, there definitely are women whose anxiety/depression necessitates the use of medication during pregnancy. It really be you weighing the pros and cons for your unique situation. 

citychicks

I am not currently taking them but I still have my Ativan which I am allowed to take if I need it. It's really up to you and your Dr. Sometimes it's not worth the risk of the side effects and other times it's better overall for you and baby if you are taking the meds.

BeetleLinz1125

I am taking an anti-depressant.  I tried to do without it for the first trimester, and I started taking it at about 15 weeks or so.  It has helped tremendously.  I do not have severe depression, but it was getting in the way of my everyday life.  I would never think about hurting myself or my baby, but after discussing my problems with my doctor she was able to provide me with something that has helped. 

I understand many people are apprehensive about taking these medications while pregnant.  Before I was pregnant, I had to take several that if I got pregnant I would be prohibited from taking.  Luckily, I was able to function off of everything except the anti-depressants.  You just have to do what works best for you.   

JCragg

Yup I take mine. If I don't i'm a little on the crazy side. I'm very uptight and worrysome and with them i'm happy + mellow. Mr Dr said there were no issues at all.

selby.nippert

What meds are you taking?

kapereasd

Hormones and lack of 'flip-out' medicine are not a pretty combination.  If you are used to taking them, I would continue taking them.  Due to severe morning sickness I had to get off lexapro in the first trimester (couldn't keep it down and it was making me sicker).  It was awful!!!...with the surge in hormones and then the lack of antidepressants that my body was used to/needed, I was a hot mess!!  I cried nonstop and sank back into my depression.  My doctor said that in my case the benefits of lexapro outweighed the risks (and that lexapro has never been shown to cause any problems)...so to get back on it as soon as I could.  I feel sooooo much better now being back on it.  It was a rough week or so when I first started up again due to the side effects, but it was well worth it!  Hope this helps )

Ivana_Stolichnaya

I was told to stop taking Lexapro as soon as I got a BFP.  That's a hard one to get off of, you have to go very slowly because the withdrawals are horrible.

yourmom5309

My doctor has me on a very low does of an anti-anxiety med. 

vlagrl29

i was on ativan pre pregnancy, then they said i couldn't take it.  m/s plus constant hunger really gave me anxiety so i got on zoloft and it helped me tremendously.  i can't imagine going off of it again until after baby comes.

el25

I am still on my anti-depressants.  I took them for the first 26 weeks of my first pregnancy also.  I have lowered my dose.  I've tried go off the medicine in the past, and I had horrible experiences.  Both my doctors determined that the benefits outweighed the risks in my case.

nycjenny

My doctors took me off of one of my three meds and lowered the dosage on the other two. I go for talk therapy at least once a month and we all monitor the situation very carefully.  Me with no meds = a disaster.  

Finlaysonbride

I take anti anxiety meds and my dr and shrink both told me that it was fine to take while pregnant (I take a fairly low dose). I did, however, go off them before TTC to see if I could handle is--- the answer was a resounding no, so I went back on. For my situation, it was universally agreed that the calmer I am, the better for LO.

 

jessamarie

I take Celexa & I went off of them when I got my BFP. All of my doctors said it would be safe for me to be on it. This past week I decided to go back on it because it is not only affecting everyday life but it was really affecting my work performance. Not being on my meds during pregnancy was not the right choice for me.

jpaar@hotmail.com

I think it's best to speak with the physician that prescribed the medications first,  I spoke with my psychiatrist regarding it and my chances of a birth defect were the same as they would be if I wasn't taking medications for my depression and anxiety.  The one side effects going to be withdrawl for the baby.  It's what I worry about the most,in fact, but I know being mentally healthy for my baby is the best thing for me to do for him.  The medications I take are Desipramine and Clonazepam for a matter of reference.  If you can find a Pharmacologist, like I have, that's the best person to talk to since they are mental health professionals that have a speciality of pharmacy.  I hope this helps.

srrobert

I was on lamictal and celexa prior to getting pregnant, and under the supervision of my OB and my psychiatrist I've stopped taking the lamictal and switched from celexa to zoloft. I also go to therapy weekly, which has helped tremendously. I do notice that I'm probably a bit more crazy than I would be if I were still able to take the mood stabilizer, but overall the option of going completely unmedicated throughout the pregnancy was not realistic for me. It was a difficult decision to make, but my doctors convinced me that going without could potential be more harmful in my case. I know everyone is different- it really is a case by case sort of thing.

 

FemmeNat01

Yes. I'm on Zoloft which is one of the safest meds to take while pregnant. The benefits outweigh the risks because my PPD and depression is REALLY bad.

jaysgirl31780

I went off of Zoloft when we were first TTC, and I made it through the entire first trimester, but my job can be quite stressful at times, so DH and I made the decision that it would be best if I went back on it. I started back on at week 16, and I find I'm much more even-keeled. Dr. didn't seem to have any issues with putting me back on it. She said of all the ones that are out there, that's probably one of the safest for baby.

kivuvu83

I have been on Prozac since I was a preteen, I am on the depressed side of bipolar and need to be on the medication. I am currently pregnant with my third child, and was on the meds during the first two pregnancy's. I can't imagine going through the pregnancy and post partum staes without being on my meds because of the emotions and stress. I even nursed my children for months after and was advised to continue on my meds. My four year old and two year old are fine and doing great. I recently moved to a new state and was sent to a OB Specialist because of the Prozac, all the dr said was that it has a 3 to 5% chance of a possible heart problem and that it is wiser to stay on the medicine than to stress out my body and baby by taking myself off the meds.

jules999

I take meds for anxiety/depression - my doctor and I decided it was safer for me to continue taking them then to go off of them.  She also said it will help reduce the risk of postpartum depression for me.  The only risks to the baby seem to be a slight withdrawal over the first few days after birth, but it's minimal and manageable, especially compared to consequences of going off the meds.

 

Everyone is different, but if your doctor is encouraging you then it's probably a good idea. 

Mrs. Sarah&Micah

I was on Prozac prior to my bfp. I stopped taking it with the approval of my psychiatrist when I found out I was pregnant. My family and husband know to watch me closely to make sure I do not slip back into my depression but I have been just fine.