Antidepressants & pregnancy

EmilyJoy82 · November 2011

Any of you MoMs safely take an antidepressant during your pregnancy? I was on Paxil prior to getting pregnant with my twins. Knowing it causes heart defects, I weaned myself off and have not been on anything since. With a 2 year old DS and a 4 year old DS and this pregnancy, I just feel like I'm losing it and need something. My OB prescribed me Lexapro yesterday at my 24 week check up. She did warn that no medicine is techinically "safe" during pregnancy but that it was a situation where we weigh the risks vs benefits. The potential is for breathing problems of some sort, on rare occasion. She said that the stress of me being anxious/not coping could be bad for the babies and we needed to treat me. So I felt ok about it. Then I just read the insert that came from the pharmacy and it specifically says to NOT take it during the third trimester. I'm so confused.

I was on the Lexapro with my last pregnancy from 36 weeks on but that was so much later in the pregnancy.

Anyone have any experience with all this they'd like to share?

LottaLattes · November 2011

I'm sorry you're struggling! My friend who struggled with APD (antepartum depression) took Zoloft through her pregnancy. I think with all of them, no controlled study has been done on pregnant women, as with most drugs, but you being healthy minded is definitely worth certain risks. You might ask your doctor if there are other options that don't have as direct of risks associated with the third tri.

Good luck, and I hope you find something that makes you feel better!

starburst210 · November 2011

i take a very small dose of zoloft....they obv. prefer you don't be on it but don't tell you not to take it if you need it! so if you really need and it can't function without it it's better for you and babies!

KatieBlondie27 · November 2011

I was on Pristiq and then switched to 150mg of Zoloft daily from TTC to the day I gave birth. Zoloft and Prozac are two of the best researched anti depressants for pregnancy. Zoloft is actually an anti-anxiety and anti-depressant so it worked well for me. My OB asked me to get off the Zoloft before 3rd trimester. I tried to wean and it didn't work, so I consulted MFM and my psychiatrist who gave me the thumbs up to continue.

AND PS- DO NOT listen to those commercials about anti-depressants causing birth defects. They are simply paid advertisements from law firms trying to drum up business.

srbmvp · November 2011

I've been weaning off of Effexor, which I've beenon for PPD after DS. Your Dr. is right, you really have to weigh the risks to the babies versus the risks to you of not treating you.

The problem is that they can't do studies on these drugs on pregnant women, so there's not much info out there on the risks.

I think if you are at the point where you feel you need to take something, take it. Your babies need a momma who is both physically and mentally happy.

Good luck!

lrrb · November 2011

I took an anti-anxiety from 15 weeks until birth. Its not ideal but I had to do what I had to do. Now that the babies are here I'm starting a second drug and I'm so glad I can......you have to do what you have to do. Listen to you doctor and your body and do NOT listen to Dr. Google or anyone else opinion.....

melissajo2011 · November 2011

I am on a low dose of celexa (Lexapro precursor). My sister also took it during both of her pregnancies and her daughters are perfect. I agree with everyone else - you need to weigh the risk of the meds against the risk of your depression/anxiety. Stress is really not good for a pregnant woman or her baby/babies. It causes a lot of disruptions to the reproductive system, besides the problems it can cause to you and the people around you.