Which medicine works for you?

SarahMcC103

New to this board but I feel like I should have come sooner.  I have an appt. with my OB for Tuesday to talk about PPD meds.  I have become very irritable, moody, angry, tense and have lost all desire for sex or any kind of contact at all from DH.  I feel like my life has been lost to the baby.  I love him very much but really miss the "old" me and the old relationship I had with DH before LO came along.  The freedom, the closeness, all of it.  My Lo is now 11 weeks and 4 days old and I have been thinking this may be PPD for about a month now.  I just verbalized it yesterday though. 

I don't really feel depressed, just angry in general and mournful of my former life.   Does this sound like PPD? 

What meds worked for each of you and if you took one that did not, what was wrong with it? I am terrified of taking these drugs, I have never had to take anything other than cold meds and pain meds.  TIA ladies!

totallyshocked

In my past(high school) zoloft worked for my anxiety/depression and then in college when I had a bad attack Prozac was the one. After LO was born they tried me on zoloft but it didnt help and after 4 weeks on Prozac my anxiety only got worse to the point I couldnt sleep or eat and then finally one weekend I was throwing up non stop and called in my doctors office. They started me on Celexa and within days I was a different person. Besides being a bit tired I have no side effects. I also take clonazepam as needed. So dont worry if meds dont work at first or u have to try more than one because something out there will work!! Your doctor will def know best. My midwife had no experience really with meds so she just went with what I told her I tried in the past but my GP was the one to get it right for me. GL. Dont hold anything back and know YOU TOO will get through this! 

alamo10

I know how you feel. I've always hated taking any kind of medication but PPD is pretty seious and medication is probably a good idea.

I took 10mg of Paxil at first and it made me very drowsy and when I would go to sleep, it would be the deepest sleep ever and nothing would wake me. (I'm usually a very light sleeper)

Now I'm on 150mg of Wellbutrin XL and it is doing great for me. I have energy and I really don't feel moody or sad and I haven't cried in awhile (that was my biggest problem)

But every antidepressant does everybody different. Yes there are many possible side effects but it's worth it, in my opinion. Hope you find one that works for you.

jaime5121

Several years ago I was on Effexor after I had to have emergency surgery for an ectopic pregnancy and a tube removed.  It helped my mood, but I didn't deal with anything until DH and I saw a therapist.  That is what really helped me get through that. 

I was diagnosed with PPD and PPOCD and was put on zoloft.  It worked wonders for me.  I didn't have any of the side effects that some people complain about. 

As for if what you are describing is PPD or not - I don't know.  A lot of new mothers go through what you are describing.  It is always best to talk to your Dr about it and let them make the determination.  A piece of advice - tell them EVERYTHING.  Don't hold anything back - even if it is something that you think you will be embarrassed about.  I know you miss the "old" you and the way that you and your DH used to be.  What you need to do is find the "new" you.  Something that defines you and your new family.  Perhaps medication is not necessarily the answer, but maybe a counselor to deal with the loss of the "old" you.  GL!

blondek8

I started off on Cipralex 10mg but got switched to Cymbalta 60mg and then switched back to Cipralex but to an increased dose of 20mg. The Cymbalta made my suicidal ideation WAY worse. It's not necessarily the medication that makes me feel better, but a combination of my meds, talk therapy, a PPD support group and getting the heII out of the house on a regular basis without my babies. I hope you find whatever combo works for you and that you start to feel better soon! Good luck.

 

ETA: Cipralex = Lexapro

astroMom

Well, I just started.  After my doctor prescribed me meds, I actually called back and asked if I could try Zoloft first.  Are you breastfeeding?  From webmd & kellymom.com, I felt like that one was the one I wanted to try first before going to Prozac.  Everyone is different, though, so I don't know if it will really work for me.