Help needed/ Zoloft/ TTC

peanut701 · May 2013

I could really use some support from women who have been in my situation. I feel so alone right now. Eighteen months after the birth of my DD, I am still in treatment for PPD. I would like to TTC, so I have been trying to wean off of Zoloft. I was doing really well on 200mg yup, highest possible dose. I weaned to 150mg and I'm an effing mess. Went back to 200mg and was doing great. Tried 150mg and I'm an anxious, weepy disaster.

What the hell am I going to do??? I am working against the clock here. I want my kids to be close in age. I'm no spring chicken and DH is going to be 37. I feel so much pressure to get off this stuff and yet I can't function without it. My doc is so damn judgmental. She wants me to stay on 200mg and I could tell from the very beginning that she doesn't think I should have more children.

I'm just devastated that after everything I've been through, PPD is potentially robbing me of a second child. And my DH doesn't understand the sacrifice I am making to try and have a healthy pregnancy.

homebird · May 2013

Aw, I want to give you a hug right now because I know exactly how you feel.

I have been dealing with depression and anxiety for almost 3 years now. When I decided I wanted to TTC my primary care physician wanted me to be off of all medication. Which, in theory, is ideal.

I weaned off my meds and was almost immediately a depressed, anxious mess. I tried to deal with it on my own while we were TTC, but eventually ended up suicidal and had to admit myself to the hospital. Before I went into the hospital I saw my doctor several times and begged to be put back on the medication, but he refused saying it was "dangerous" and "When I got pregnant I would feel better".

What an idiot.

When I went to the hospital I had just found out that I was pregnant, so I was about 5 weeks along. I saw a psychiatrist who immediately put me back on my medication (lexapro). It was a class C drug like zoloft, and I was concerned about the risks. But he sat me down and went over everything with me. Yes, there are some risks, but they are pretty minimal compared to what I was dealing with being off the medication. He said there was no reason for me to feel guilty about being pregnant on medication. He has seen a lot of women through pregnancies taking things like lexapro and zoloft that had perfectly healthy pregnancies and deliveries.

I think if you want kids - you need to go for it, but it sounds like you really need to stay on medication! Zoloft is one of the safest medicines for pregnancy and breastfeeding. If you have a psychiatrist - talk to him about the medication and what it means for a pregnancy. If you don't have a good psychiatrist, get one!

Sounds like your doctor is well-meaning, but misinformed. In my experience, most OBs and primary care physicians are just not specialized to deal with psych disorders, and are often misinformed (or have old information) about psych meds. They're being cautious because they think they're doing the best thing for you, but they can be wrong.

There's no reason you have to delay your family plans just because you're dealing with depression or anxiety. I can't tell you how many women I have talked to who have been pregnant while taking some kind of medication.

I have been on lexapro since I was 6 weeks pregnant. I'm 38 weeks now and the baby is completely healthy and my pregnancy has been complication free. Not to mention I am happy. I don't regret my decision to stay on medication at all.

Sooo ... all that to say. Find a new doctor. Stay on the medication. Have a baby. Good luck and feel free to PM me if you want to talk.

peanut701 · May 2013

homebird thank you SO much and I will PM you when I'm on a desktop.

aiche Umm Ayoub · May 2013

I would change to a new doctor .

I was on a anti depression medication the whole pregnancy with my son , I had my daughter and got really bad ppd doctor put me on medication and when my daughter was 8 months old found out I was pregnant again doctors just told me to continue medication and my son was born health and happy he's now 2 1/2 years old . I had ppd with him but not as bad then my mental health doctor switch my depression medications and I had a bad reaction so I went off the medication and was doing ok then I found out I was pregnant again and was having other health issues got really depressed and doctors had me start the depression medication again that I took with my son . you need to find a doctor who is willing to work with you and not judge you , I have a great team of doctors and they talk to each other so everyone knows where I stand

peanut701 · May 2013

How high were all of your dosages, relatively speaking? I'm at the maximum dosage of Zoloft. I've done some googling and seen posts from women who worried about being pregnant on one eighth of my dosage.

I really do need a new psych. I get meds from a psychiatric nurse practitioner, actually. I feel like I need an MD who is more informed about the teratogenic effects of these meds. You all have also inspired me to loop in my OB and really get to planning for a pregnancy. Because I really am going to have to assemble a team.

EMF70 · June 2013

Get a new psych. I found one who specialized in women's issues because I knew I wanted to try and have a child but knew I'd need to be on medication. I'm on 150 of Zoloft and 300 of Wellbutrin. My OB is completely fine with this as well. I'm currently 35 weeks pregnant at age 43. This is my first so I can't say whether the meds will have a long term effect on my daughter but my pregnancy has been pretty straight forward. I only go to a high risk doctor because of my age.

Good luck.

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