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Anxiety Mommas - advice needed (long)
So my OB wants me weaned off of Zoloft before I deliver and then we'll start back up after delivery. I met with my PCP because he's the one who prescribed it and he has me weaning over the course of about four weeks. Here's my concern:
My mom called me on Thursday (like 30 minutes before my appt with my PCP) to tell me that she is having another biopsy because she has a lump at each end of her mastectomy incision/scar and one got infected, at least her oncologist thinks this, but it did not respond to antibiotics. So, to be safe, he went in and did a small incision to remove the tissue and send it to the lab. I'm nervous because she just went through all of the MRI stuff and testing and it came back clear, no more cancer (about a month/month and a half ago). Her oncologist wanted to do the biopsy just to be safe, but said it could be scar tissue. Fine. Better safe than sorry. But with weaning off of Zoloft and not being able to take Xanax for my panic/anxiety attacks, I'm already feeling like my stress level has increased.
My PCP did say that Prozac is safer during pregnancy and if I really couldn't handle being off of Zoloft, that we could try Prozac. I wish I didn't have to use anything to feel like I was normal, but being pregnant is making my fears and worries worse. If I continue with meds, did any of you take Prozac? Are any of you taking Zoloft or took Zoloft through your entire pregnancy? Is there advice you have to trying to relax and keep my stress level down? I know that having the extra stress isn't super great during pregnancy and I'm feeling torn between dealing with this through my OB or my PCP. I'm just stressed and the above story is really freaking me out the most. I don't know that I can deal with more cancer treatments again. So help, please. I need to relax and I just can't. I've had emotional breakdowns and taken more warm baths in the last two weeks than I have in the last three years. It's not helping much...
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Re: Anxiety Mommas - advice needed (long)
I took and still take lamictal. Most of those drugs are class B I think so are usually ok, but my Dr's and midwives all felt that it was better to stay on and be in a safer place mentally. I am/was not doing me or the baby any help by not being on it if I was going to fall apart without it.
Try to not get ahead of yourself about you mom. Remember that the worry won't change the outcome any way it's meant to be. You can come up with a plan of action after the results are in. I know this is easier to say than to feel, but I get paralyzing anxiety and it helps when I try to think of things this way.
I can't remember the specific reason why, that's awful, huh? I know that I have read that Zoloft through the entire pregnancy can sometimes end up putting baby through withdrawals. My primary care doctor wants me to call asap if I start having worse feelings and more depression.
If I really start feeling like I can't handle it, then I'm going to just tell my doc that I need something. I feel like the benefit would outweigh the risk.
So sorry to hear about your mom - I hope everything is a-ok.
Obv, I don't have any advice for pregnancy, but I'm on zoloft as well, and I've wondered about how I'll do if I go off of it during pregnancy. Is there anyone near you that your PCP can refer you to to do some talk and/or cognitive behavior therapy?? I find that I do better with some strategies and support that I can do myself to help manage, in addition to my meds.
I was on Zoloft my entire pregnancy with Payton and after birth, it seemed to stop working, so my OB put me on Welbutrin XL. I was on Welbutrin thru my entire pregnancy with Ryan and still am currently.
FWIW, I tried Prozac years ago when I was initially diagnosed with my anxiety issues and had severe side effects.
Baby website / My blog
That's the other thing I'm nervous about. I am doing pretty well with Zoloft, so introducing something new makes me nervous side-effect wise.
Thanks for the advice and information. I will definitely bring up my concerns with my OB and PCP if it continues!
This, minus twins, but through 2 pregnancies. And Zoloft is actually considered one of the safest to be on. No way - tell her no. My OB is amazing and up on all the research, plus my primary care doc - both advised me to stay on. Weird that your OB thinks that...? There were NO side effects after birth of being on it either. I was worried, but for nothing.
My OB is one of THE best at Swedish (so much so, that no need for a high risk MFM Dr w the twins... I would trust her with ANYTHING. Plug for Robin Cole...) and she absolutely never mentioned any kind of withdrawal for the twinkies following delivery. i've never heard of that. I would think that tapering off, and being without anything to treat would be more trouble than the rare side effects.
https://www.mayoclinic.com/health/antidepressants/DN00007
comparison of antidepressants during pregnancy from mayo
Sorry for the double post...
We go to the same clinic (Dr. Scheve here though!) - they are amazing!