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2nd Trimester
Anti-depressants in pregnancy
I don't usually post on this board but I do lurk. I was wondering if anyone is on antidepressants during this or other pregnancies. I went off of Zoloft when I found out I was pregnant but I'm really struggling these days with overwhelming anxiety. I woke up with spotting this morning and I know it's caused by the stress/anxiety. My OB wasn't very supportive of anti-depressants while pregnant so I'm just trying to get through this pregnancy but I wonder what other's experiences are.
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Re: Anti-depressants in pregnancy
i was taking zoloft but stopped before i even got pregnant, but after talking to my doctor and my psychologist, they want me to begin taking it again...but also want me to talk to my OB first. /:
i know the anxiety can be so very overwhelming, and i hope yours calms down.
I am on a low dose of Prozac. After much thought I decided that the stress that is caused by not being on it is worse than the medicine itself. There are no conclusive studies that say it's bad, unless you are on a really high dose. Before DS I weaned myself to the lowest dose I could while controlling my symptoms. I was on it throughout my first pregnancy and I happy to say DS is perfectly healthy and has above average verbal skills. So far it hasn't affected him at all.
GL with your decision.
I'm off Wellbutrin while I'm pregnant/BFing
Are you talking with a counselor? Getting regular exercise? There's other options besides taking meds. Can you see another OB or a different doctor for a second opinion?
GL
I think there are diet and exercise routines to help with depression...
In the mean time perhaps some chocolate, soothing music, and things that make you happy? Perhaps also putting up an ultra sound picture on your wall? Positive thinking and reminders does help.
I'm taking Prozac. I tried to get off a few years ago and had the worst panic attacks and anxiety of my life. I really, really didn't want to get off of it again, especially when I was pregnant my hormones were going crazy.
For my PAP smears, I would just go to my family doctor so I didn't have an OBGYN. I literally planned on going to various doctors until I found one that would let me stay on Prozac, because I knew some doctors were ok with it.
Luckily the first doctor I went to was completely fine with it! I read a lot about it before I got pregnant and there were no studies to show that it wasnt' safe during pregnancy--same thing my doctor said. I honestly think I'd be a wreak if I wasn't on it still.
This!
I'm on zoloft for PPD from #1 and will be staying on through at least the early postpartum period. My midwives are fine with it and I'm seeing a psychiatrist who specializes in treating women who are pregnant or in the postpartum period.
I'm taking 200mg and my psychiatrist has told me to not be surprised if we need to increase it before the pregnancy is over.
I'm also seeing a therapist who specializes in energy psychology. It's sort of a combo of acupressure, relaxation breathing and cognitive behavioral therapy. That in combination with zoloft has me feeling better than I have in my entire life.
I'd eventually like to be able to control my anxiety and depression without medication, but now is just not the time for me to try. I hit rock bottom with my PPD shortly before #2 was conceived so going off of my meds now would put me at high risk for a relapse, which wouldn't be good for anyone.
I started on Zoloft because of PPD with my first baby as well.
Twins born too early at 23 weeks due to incompetent cervix
FET #1, IUI #1, 2, 3, 4 - all BFN
IVF #3 BFP!!! IT'S A BOY! Born July 16th, 2011
FET #2 BFP! Due February 15, 2013
11/2013- Diagnosed with stage 4 endometriosis
07/2014- emergency surgery to remove hemorrhaging cyst first RE missed, removed endo from fallopian tubes, hsg done, d&c performed to remove polyphs in uterus, femvue done, put on dexamethasone and metformin
08/2014- miscarriage, second RE refuses to mark down in charts, switch again
03/2016- IUI #1, waiting for results on April 17
I have been on Zoloft for a few years (75mg). My OB has no problems with me taking it, nor does my psychologist. It is recommended that you try to decrease your dose before birth so that your baby does not have withdrawl symptoms but if you are going to breastfeed then it does not matter as much.
Depression during pregnancy is more dangerous than an anti-depression medication IMO.
BFP 11/18/13. EDD 7/25/14. It's a BOY!
Surprise BFP 7/30/13. EDD 4/7/14. Natural MC 8/24/13
thank you.
thank you.
thank you.
thank you.
Your OB should not be deciding your antidepression medication or regiment. Your OB should be working with your psychologist to identify the best solution for you.
Before the pregnancy I was taking Prozac daily, and Adderol and Xanax on a as-need-basis. When I found out I was pregnant, my psychologist tool me of Prozac and all the other drugs ... needless to say this affected my mood and productivity. However, in the beginning of my second trimester she introduced the idea of restarting my prozac, I declined. We have, however, decided to start Prozac after deliver to assure proper bonding.
My friend, who's depression and anxiety was much more severe, was on Zoloft for her entire pregnancy.
If your anxiety is severe enough to cause spotting, you are putting your baby at a higher risk then if you were taking medication (my opinion at least).
Bottom line... Get a second opinion.
Unfortunately, clinical depression and anxiety often go hand in hand. To be frank these are real mental illnesses that manifest as a result of chemical (and sometimes physical) factors. Although meditation is recommended for some therapies to prevent anxiety, most of the time it is simply not enough. I don't want to speak for others, but when I experience an episode of depression I can not overcome it with a mind over matter technique. I can not simply think happy thoughts and be happy. My thoughts are not the problem, the chemistry in my brain is.
Thank you for your advise, but I think it the problems experienced by the initial poster need professional intervention.
I don't take antidepressants, but I take stabilizers and antipsychotics, occasionally some of those drugs are also used as antidepressants. I used to take a cocktail for bipolar disorder and schizo-affective disorder, but since becoming pregnant, I now only take a low dose of Seroquel XR. I went the first 14 weeks with no meds whatsoever, but I started experiencing cycling and the onset of psychosis, and was subsequently hospitalized. My doctors agreed that something rather than nothing needed to be done, and after discussing many outlets we all decided on taking a single drug, at the lowest effective dose.
From our conversations, I can tell you that nearly every antidepressant is considered a Class C drug- meaning that no research shows damage, but there isn't much comprehensive research to go on. And believe it or not, one of the safest proven things to cure advanced depression and psychotic episodes during pregnancy is Electroshock Therapy, or ECT. I think that antidepressants (and mental health drugs in general) should only be judged on a case by case basis during pregnancy by your doctor. Your psychiatrist should have some great resources for you too.
This. I talked with my OB, general practitioner, and psychologist and they all said that I need to weigh the pros and cons. There have been inconclusive studies that anti-depressants could raise the chance of defect by such a minuscule percentage that I decided I would take that risk because a happy mother and non stressed mother is going to do much more good to the growing baby than the stress/anxiety crazy woman I can become off my meds.
My decision was finalized when I spoke to my college friend who now has a 2 year old who is happy and healthy. She had also been on a low dose of Prozac throughout her pregnancy.
Good Luck with your decision.
I was on Paxil for PPD w/ DD and then she switched me to something else that of course I can't remember right now, but both she said were safe for pregnancy. I had been afraid to go off them and she was perfectly fine with me being on them. I was more apprehensive so I decided that I'd try it not on them and see how it went. If I found myself starting to feel like I needed them, I'd go back on them. Luckily I've been ok, but my OB is planning on having me start them at the end of my pg or right after I deliver to head off a 2nd bout of PPD.
If you feel like you need some help, talk to your OB or another in the practice. She shouldn't make you feel bad for wanting them. I knew that if I started to feel the effects of the PPD, I wouldn't hesitate to go back on them. It is so hard to live in a depressed state for you and your family. I hope your OB will be a little more open to your needs.
I was also taking Zoloft for anxiety. When I found out I was pregnant I gradually stopped them..but I too have also been struggling. I think I will try to make it the rest of the way with out them. But, I do know that I was told Zoloft was one of the safest during pregnancy. I can't wait to start taking it again...it literally changed my life!
This. Also, as someone who has a mental illness it bugs me when people who don't have mental illness say that "chocolate" and "soothing music" or something would help. Depression and other mental illnesses are real diseases. Would you tell a diabetic that maybe if they just "listened to soothing music" they wouldn't need insulin? Sorry, rant over.
this!
My ob gyn would balk at this...Both my ob gyn AND the high risk specialist I saw (because I had gastric bypass surgery a year ago) are completely supportive with my dosage of 100mg of Zoloft daily. They both strongly advise AGAINST going off the meds. The specialist I saw says the biggest risk (which is still controversial) is that a baby born to a mother on Zoloft has a 1 in 300 risk of developing pulmonary problems, as opposed to a mother who is not on anti-depressants, whose risk is 1 in 500. Even THIS is in question. Since I suffered from PPD with my first, this is the most responsible thing to do for both my unborn baby, myself, and my almost 4 year old (not to mention my husband as well).
You will forever be my best friend. I can almost feel our hugs. I will ensure everyone will know (now and in the future) what a genuine, kind, loving person you were...I already miss your laughter and our daily conversations. I love you, Samantha. May 20, 1983- February 20, 2012
amen sister! people often say "well, in the old days we didn't have these meds and people were just fine." the thing is, they weren't, they lived their entire lives miserable or locked up or drank/used drugs to self-medicate (not that people don't do that today). these meds are life savers for many, many people.
research has shown that anxiety and stress and depression, and the lifestyle issues that go along with them (not eating or sleeping well, other somatic physiological symptoms) are definitely much more likely to be harmful to your unborn baby that taking an anti-depressant.
however, i caution any posters (or doctors) who say that prozac or zoloft or whatever are "perfectly safe." this has not been proven. like someone else said, almost all SSRIs and SNRIs are class C, meaning there are some studies that show there MIGHT be risks, and others that show no risks. so really, we just don't know. one can say that these meds are "safER" than anixety and stress, or safer than alcohol or xanax, etc, but it cannot be said that they are "completely safe." that is not accurate either.
however, enough women have taken anti-depressants throughout their pregnancy for the past 20 years that, in my opinion, if there was a significant risk for birth defects, we would have already seen it. any research that shows a slight increase in negative "side effects" cannot eliminate the mental illness itself as the cause of those side effects - that is, women who are on SSRIs are also those who have depression and anxiety, so it is impossible to say whether it's the illness or the meds that are causing this (very slight) increase in health problems re: the baby that only a few studies have even shown.
it's a personal choice, and one that should be made in consultation with your psychiatrist and your OB. there's no "perfectly safe" answer, both carry some element of risk. but in my opinion, crippling anxiety and/or depression carry way more risk than taking these meds.
and that's why i'm staying on my effexor for my pregnancy. i am 14 weeks and thus far everything has been fine on ultrasounds, etc (knock wood!). however, i may wean off in the 9th month, because the baby does go through withdrawals after birth, and if any of you have ever suddenly stopped taking your anti-depressants, you know how unpleasant that can be. i don't want my baby to feel that. other than the withdrawal, i am not over concerned. there is no guarantee of safety in life, ever. all you can do is try to make the happiest, calmest, most stable environment possible for your little one.
Telling the average pregnant woman to self-medicate with chocolate, exercize and "things that make her happ" is a recipe for disaster.
I don't deal with anxiety or depression myself, but I can tell you that my motivation to exercize has plummeted since becoming pregnant. I just don't ahve the energy and I'm quite certain i'm not alone in this. The remaining parts of this advice would have me throwing back chocolate and cheeseburgers.
Seriously, I'm sure the advice was well-meaning, but come on. These people were medicated for issues, they didn't just have atough day that could be eleviated by some bath salts and some Barry Manilow.
i feel the same way about zoloft. i was on 100mg/day when i got pregnant with dd. at that time, my mws were not enthusiastic about me being on anti-depressants, so my dr advised me to taper off during my second trimester. yes, the rest of the pregnancy was rough emotionally, but i guess people just thought i was crying all the time because i was pregnant. i started the zoloft back up (50mg/day) when dd was 2 weeks old and am still taking it in the middle of this pregnancy. my plan is to wean off again, and soon, but i'm not looking forward to it. still, it will only be a few months.