Post Partum Anxiety

kelleighxnicole

I am 24 years old and have two babies. DS is 6 months, DD will be 2 in 8 days. 

I've had anxiety my entire life, with panic attacks almost all the time at random.

But for the most part they'd seemed to go away the past few years -- until having my son. Now since his birth I have been on the edge of a panic attack day by day, every day. I always feel nervous and anxious, even without reason to. I went back to my psychiatrist who prescribed me Prozac on the 20th of September, and this is my 16th day taking it - so I am hoping for it to kick in soon. She also prescribed Clonazepam, which I take half of a .5 pill in the AM with the 10 mg of Prozac.

Anyone else have anxiety, especially post partum, and tried Prozac? 

EVA116

I have had anxiety and panic since I was 18 (now 29). I got PPD really bad after DD was born. I recognized it right away and got on lexapro...it has helped so much. i still get anxiety occasionally...like now because she has been sick and i haven't gotten much sleep ( no sleep = anxiety) I was on lexapro for anxiety years before and it worked then too. I tried prozac but it didn't work for me. But every drug works different for different people. I tried three before finding Lexapro. I was lucky to know this worked for me and just went on it right away after noticing PPD symtoms. You cannot breast feed on it though.

kelleighxnicole

Thank you.

I have read lots of good things about lexapro. I guess you're not really supposed to breastfeed on any of the antidepressants or benzodiazepines, however between my pediatrician and psychologist, they felt the benefits outweighed the risks (me fearing myself incapable of properly caring for my two kids if I have a severe panic attack & am home alone, as I am most of the time.) So my Dr. chose the meds that are considered 'safest'. Also, my pedi said that the only negative reports known with the medicines I am taking on breastfed infants were with ages 0-2 months, and they said most older babies (my son is 6 months) don't show any issues.

My son refuses a bottle unless it's pumped breastmilk and he's very, very high needs so I barely get a moment to pump, between him and my (almost) two year old. I feel like as he calms down my nerves will, too. But he is very fussy.

Like tonight, DH and I drove out of town, and he cried the entire ride there, the entire time we were at the store, the entire time we got BACK in town, and right up until I sat him down on my couch just now to nurse him. So I'm feeling extremely anxious, and felt even sick to my stomach in the store from nerves.

 

Thank you for the advice. I truly hope it gets better. 

EVA116

I wish I could just give you a hug. I know exactly how you feel. My anxiety is awful today. We will get through it.

 

 

EVA116

I also think you need to reevaluate you medicine. Maybe change the dosage or the whole medication.

EdenJaine

I was lurking over here about general anxiety. I'm not a mother so I obviously don't have PPA/PPD. But after a tragic accident a couple years ago where my boyfriend lost his life, I've had (what I consider) severe anxiety. Anyways.. my point is, I was prescribed the exact same medicines you're on. My doc first tried Lexapro. For some reason, my body had a terrible reaction to it. It made my anxiety about 1 million times worse.

So she switched me to 10 mg prozac and .25 mg clonazapam. I just took the clonazapam twice a day for the first 3 weeks until the prozac really kicked in. I was on the prozac from February to May. I really liked it. It worked really well for me. One thing you might think about is that my doctor told me she wanted me on it for about 10 months. That sounded crazy to me because I didn't think I'd need it for that long. She said "You'll really start to  feel better after a couple months and think you don't need it anymore. And you might not. But studies show that women who stay on Anti-anxieties for over 6 months but less than 12 (hence the 10), are much more able to keep anxiety away for much longer periods or the rest of their lives." -Wish I had taken the advice.

As I said, I was only on it for about 3 months. Had no trouble going off of it. But.. what do you know... within about 2 months I started getting more anxious. I, too, spend a lot of time home alone which doesn't help. By about 4 months out I was thinking, I should call my doctor and get back on somehting. And now, here we are 5 months later and I have an appointment Tuesday to get back on something. I wish I just would have stayed on it. The only thing I didn't like about it was that I gained weight on it. Like 20 pounds... ugh. But that doesn't happen to everyone obviously. So when I go Tuesday, I'm going to ask for something else, but I always know that prozac works and I will get back on it if I need. 

And as far as the clonazapam goes, my doc said that I could take it any time I have a rough day, am anxious about flying, anxious about other things, etc. I've been taking them more lately which made me think I should really get back on something. And by more often, I mean like .25 mg once a week. Ha.. nothing alarming. Just enough for me to say "OK... time to get back on something and stay on it for the full like 10 months".  I'm sorry for my novel. But considering we're on the exact same medicine, I thought I would be able to give you my opinion and insight.

Ledabe

I have always had generalized anxiety disorder.  Im 35.  I also have OCD and take Luvox and took it while pregnant.  My DD is 2 months.  I had really bad anxiety with her.  I have took Prozac before and it did great!  It quit working after a couple of years and I had to change.  My husband also having anxiety since LO arrived (he is 37)  and this is our first.  He is taking Zoloft.  Yesterday I was really sick to my stomach, thinking I can't do this.  I know I can, and it will get better but sucks going through it.

kaitylin

I'm currently taking Zoloft for post partum panic disorder. I have all day anxiety and panic attacks out of nowhere. I also take Ativan as needed during really bad attacks.

I'm already noticing a difference after just a couple weeks but I'm also doing the Linden Method at the same time.

I'm really hoping to be off all the meds soon!

Never had anxiety like this before in my life - it seems to be for no reason... stupid PP hormones,