Celexa and EBF.... insomnia/agitation and effects on baby

jmcdionne

So I was diagnosed with PPD last week. I've been extremely moody, sad, angry, borderline aggressive (but not physical) consistently over the past few months. I've lost a ridiculous amount of weight, have no appetite, forget everything and just want to sleep.

I am EBFing my 4 month old and am wanting to make it to a year.

I went to see a MD who said I had to stop BF to take meds. I argued, since I personally know several women who BF and are on antidepressants. He prescribed Celexa with a very conservative dose of 10mg. I am to see him again in two weeks. He also said that if my baby was to become agitated, somnolent or start losing weight, to come back right away. Well, 1 day after I started taking it, I had severe insomnia AND my baby stopped STTN and woke up every hour SCREAMING. 

I went back to see the MD after 3 nights of this. This was a different MD this time- so I got a second opinion. He told me he did not think it was the Celexa but could not recommend another antidepressant since if it was the Celexa, he assumed it was a "class reaction" to SSRI's. He recommended I get off the Celexa to see how my baby reacts. So I did- day 3 now.

She's still getting up frequently at night, but not as much. She's also drooling +++ and seems to chew her hands a lot. I've been giving her Tylenol semi frequently and she seems better, for the most part. 

So later this week I will start the Celexa back, in hopes that it was a coincidence with the 4MW, teething, a growth spurt (she seemed to have skipped the 3mo one) and that THAT was causing her agitation/sleeplessness. She also has a milk protein allergy, so who knows? Maybe I accidentally ingested dairy, even though I am very careful.

 

So my question is this: Have you all experienced weird effects on baby while taking Celexa and EBF? Even with such a piddly dose? And did you have insomnia?

The problem is, I have so many things going on in my life right now, I can't differentiate anything.

jmcdionne

Ok update: I went back to the clinic and gt a female doc (yay!) who totally disagreed with the other docs. She had a breastfeeding-medication book with her, (!!!) discontinued Celexa and put me on Zoloft. We'll see how I sleep with that but at least my daughter should not suffer the side effects.

Popple123

Can you explain a bit more about what your doctor said about the effects of Celexa vz Zoloft on an infant?  

I have a 4 month old (EBF, as well).  Can you tell me if Zoloft has effected your milk supply?  I took 20mg of Celexa when my son was a month old and it dramatically impacted my milk supply within 24 hours.  I had to quit taking it right away, basically, and I had to pump and keep him latched 24/7 for the next 5 days-- then got 2 clogged ducts (painful) plus fever.  I was able to get my supply back, but I"m worried that will happen again.  

 

Thanks!