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May 2012 Moms
Tippy05
member
I don't know what to do...
Tippy05
member
So I saw my OB today for a regular visit and told her about what's going on with me (stress at work, my dad, the level 2 scan that I still haven't been able to let go of despite "clean" results...). Anyway, after a lengthy discussion, she thinks it's best for me to go on Zoloft.
I'm hesitant about it and feel like I shouldn't be taking ANY meds while pregnant, but I trust her so I don't know what to do. She said it's better for me and the benefits to me being "stable" and less stressed outweigh the potential risks at this point in the pregnancy since we're outside the danger zone of birth defects at 24 weeks.
Is anyone else on zolft (or something similar)? I guess I need confirmation that I'm not alone in this and it's ok.
No judging, please. This is stressful enough as it is and embarrassing enough to admit. Just looking for some support.
Thanks mommas!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: I don't know what to do...
I am on prozac. I went off in November because I thought I would be ok and I was very WRONG. I had a miserable couple of months and went back on shortly after the new year and have never felt better. I agree its best to take nothing but its more than ok to take something to relieve the stress and anxiety that will also affect your baby.
You are definitely not alone
i agree with this. if you are concerned about the "risks", ask her what they are....even get a second opinion if you need to, for peace of mind...but you need to do something to reduce your stress/anxiety. that is not good for baby or mama!
In the end, it is your decision, but if you trust that your Dr wouldn't steer you wrong then you need to trust their medical opinion. I personally am not on anything similar to prozac, but I am on a blood pressure medicine that I was very hesitant to take. And in that case the "benefits outweighed the risks". I ended up taking the medicine, and so far everything has been great with my pregnancy.
Just keep in mind that for your baby to be health, you need to be healthy also. That means mentally, physically, emotionally, etc. Stress on you also creates stress on your baby. Hopefully this board will give you some reassurance. T&Ps as you make your decision.
I'm on 8 prescriptions for various complications.
I have asthma, gestational diabetes, a clotting disorder and thyroid disease. Half my prescriptions say do not take pregnant. My doctors keep reassuring me that it's better for the baby for everything to be under control. I know it's scary, but stress can be bad for the baby and lead to things like preterm labor.
It's a really tough decision. Do you think you are just under a lot of stress, and reacting normally to stressful situations, or do you think that stress has caused you to actually become depressed? I think that if its the first case, medication probably won't be that helpful, but if its the second, it could be worth it.
The truth is that we really don't know if anti-depressants are safe to use during pregnancy. There is some research looking into whether the active ingredient in Zoloft can cause heart and lung problems when taken in the second half of pregnancy. However, really all studies into anti-depressant use during pregnancy show that while there are some real risks, they are generally small risks.
Extreme stress and depression during pregnancy can harm you and can really harm your baby, so if thats what your going though, it sounds like your doctor might be right. But only you know if thats your situation. And the tone of this post makes it sound like you want to take this medication, but feel guilty about it. I think there is nothing wrong with following your doctors advice if thats what you feel is right for you and baby.
I don't take Zoloft, but I do take 2 other antidepressants: Lexapro and Wellbutrin. I tried to decrease the amount of the Lexapro before getting pregnant, and it was disastrous. I hadn't felt that bad in years and couldn't imagine continuing that way for nearly a year. So, I chose to stay on the medications, with my ob's blessing. It is a personal choice, for sure - but for me, it was the best choice. I met with my ob, my PCP, and a genetic counselor before making the decision for sure, and everyone was in agreement that as bad as my reaction was in decreasing the meds, it was much riskier to myself and to the potential LO if I chose to stop the meds than if I stayed on them.
Another thing that I would consider - is this the first time that you've had an episode of depression/anxiety? If it is not, then I would personally lean more strongly towards taking the medication only because even if it is just "life stress" that is getting to you, you are more susceptible to it turning into depression or anxiety than if this is the first time that you have experienced something like this. In any case, you have to make whatever decision you think is best for you and your LO.