Anti-anxiety meds?
So while I was growing up I always had really bad anxiety issues and panic attacks, I was prescribed medication for it but I never bothered using it because I was so young and it just wasn't disruptive enough to my life to risk taking any mood altering medication, but since having my DD (I'm a FTM after a loss of twins) I've found that the post partum depression just hasn't gone away. And when I find myself feeling stuck or down, and I'm alone, the anxiety gets really really bad, so my Dr recently prescribed me Xanax. I've never taken it before and it isn't something to use regularly, it's just when I really need it.
What I'm concerned about is how it's going to make me feel physically, considering when it's necessary for me to take the medication, is when I'm by myself with my LO, but I've read from so many people it just makes you heavy and exhausted. Has anybody ever used it for anything? (I'm also NOT breast feeding, she was in the NICU for a while so we went with formula)
Any advice that you may have would help!
Re: Anti-anxiety meds?
I struggle with both Anxiety and Depression even when I'm not pregnant or post partum First off. Don't feel bad about taking the meds. Your baby needs you to be the best you can be.
For axiety, I don't like xanax. It doesn't work for me. I am also alrgic to vallium and anything else in the family. I take a drug called Celexa. It comes in generic and works well for both anxiety and depres Thesion. My case is severe, so I also take a mood stabilizer even though I do not have bi-polar disorder.
Also, your lifestyle will affect your mood more than anything. Get enough sleep. I know that's stupid to say to a new mom, but I found that it was the most important thing when DD1 was born two years ago.
We bottle fed DD1 because she was in the NICU. When she came home, DH and I split the nights. He was in charge of the baby until about 2 a.m. because he's a night owl and wouldn't have been asleep anyway. I took the baby after that. We sleep trained early with DD1, and she has always slept through the night since 10 weeks.
The other thing that helps is to take bubble baths. Spearmint, cumber mint, and other mint scents can be soothing. I also like lavender. I hope that helps.
I was prescribed xanax before DS & PPD for severe anxiety but I am prescibed it as a daily medication to control the anxiety. Once I get to panic level, it is really hard to calm down so the Dr also prescribed an anti depressant. To answer your question about the physical effects: Start taking the medication at night when LO is asleep for a few hours atleast until you know how you will feel. The first year or so of taking the xanax, it knocked me out until my body got used to it. Nothing else has worked for me & I have tried them all! Keep in mind sometimes xanax leaves you a little groggy the next morning BUT also relaxed. That is when I notice the big difference!
Good luck & I hope you can get some relief!
Xanax is a quick fix. It will make you feel sleepy, loopy, etc. It's also highly addictive. When I'm not pregnant, I have it as "serious emergency ONLY". I had a bottle and I think I've only taken two in the past three years. I just don't like to mess around with stuff like that.
Just curious, but what kind of doctor gave this to you? I'm assuming either an OB or a primary care physician. If I were you, I'd go see a psychiatrist (get a referral if needed). It sounds scary, but it's not. They are just specialized - they'll know the best medicine to give you and they're more up to date on modern ways to treat things like anxiety and depression. My geuss is they'll try to get you on something long-term (like lexapro, zoloft, etc) and also recommend that you start therapy to learn some natural coping mechanisms for your anxiety. These long term medicines aren't "mood altering". People who have anxiety or depression have something physically wrong in their brains. There's chemistry that isn't working right, connections that aren't being made. The medication just helps your brain function the way it should.
Jmo, obviously, but I would steer clear of xanax as much as possible. It's good when you really need it, but I don't think it's a good idea to rely on xanax alone to treat anxiety or any post-partum condition.
Evelyn (3.24.10), Graham (5.30.13) & Miles (8.28.16)
You are using xanax for severe anxiety (as needed) and not using it to control your anxiety every day. That's what your long-term med is for.
The OP is saying xanax is the only thing her doctor gave her and she takes it every day. If you do you research, you'll know that using a benzo as a long-term med is typically considered an "older" practice and not recommended anymore because it is highly addictive.
Evelyn (3.24.10), Graham (5.30.13) & Miles (8.28.16)
I have always had pretty bad anxiety and after I had my son I went through severe post partum anxiety/depression. I was prescribed Zoloft and Xanax. The Xanax is what got me through until my Zoloft kicked in. My doctor told me I could take the Xanax up to 6 times/day. I took it every 6 hours to feel normal. It did make me a little tired, but it's the only thing that helped me to fall asleep at night. I tried not taking it because I was afraid of getting addicted, but when I didnt take it I was so bad. My brother and Mom, who both take it as needed, told me you can't get addicted until you've been on it for a year or longer. I took it until I started to feeling slightly better and then I cut my afternoon pill in half for a week, then stopped taking my afternoon pill for a week. I slowly cut my night time pill down too until I could sleep through the night. The last I cut down was my morning one because it was my worst time. But I am off of them now and havent taken one since mid-February. I would just try it. When I was at my worst I would have tried anything.
Good luck and hope this is just temporary for you.
I've never taken Xanax, but I've used Ativan and now use Klonopin. They are both benzos and are in the same class. I had severe PPD/PPA after DS. I had horrible non-stop insomnia. Suicidal thoughts and all. I used my anxiety meds daily and still take 1 Klonopin every single night before I go to bed. I am currently weaning off, but I have to take my time to do it b/c of the possible withdrawal.
I also take an anti-depressant (Trazodone) and a mood stabolizer (Serequel). I still NEEDED my anxiety med! I also see a national board certified cognative behavioral therapist and have been since DS was 7 months old. She is also an addiction specialist as well. She has told me many times that if your PSYCHIATRIST put you on your anxiety med and you use it exactly as you are told, and you have a true anxiety disorder, that it is RARE that you will become addicted to it.
If you NEED it...use it!! My therapy and meds have saved my life!
Positive note for you: I use to take 600mgs of Serequel and I now only use 50mgs and use to take 2mgs of Klonopin and now on 1.5mgs and I am weaning down again to 1mg this weekend. This can be done, but sometimes you need the meds to help you for a while. It is more important to be a healthy you so you can be the greatest mother you can be.
Good luck...hang in there...you can do it!
Mom to Carter (6), and Calianne (1).
Proud VBAC, natural birth, breastfeeding, cloth diapering momma!
Ok ... OP, who is prescribing this for you? OB? Primary care physician? Psychiatrist?
For the record, I have no problem taking meds. I am on 10 mg of lexapro and when I'm not pregnant I do have klonopin to take as needed (which I stated I have only taken a couple of times ... ever). Yes, you need to do what you have to do to be a healthy and happy mama. I just encourage you to do your research, and also see a good psychiatrist. I don't trust PCPs or OBs to give good psych meds or advice.
Evelyn (3.24.10), Graham (5.30.13) & Miles (8.28.16)
I agree!! I don't either...they do not know what they are doing with these meds!
Mom to Carter (6), and Calianne (1).
Proud VBAC, natural birth, breastfeeding, cloth diapering momma!