If You Have Anxiety/Insomnia...

desertmouse39 · January 2014

I have pretty awful anxiety normally, and for the past year it has caused chronic insomnia. After several months, I found a combo of rx medication that was working pretty well, but when I got pregnant, I stepped off of it. (During my first pregnancy I did not have these issues and had no need for the rx meds) I have taken Unisom throughout both pregnancies for nausea and it usually helps me sleep, too, but this time around, by second trimester I was going crazy from lack of sleep. My dr reintroduced Lexapro at a very, very low dose, and it helped immensely.

I am now at 30 weeks, and about 3 weeks ago I tapered off the Lexapro because I have read that there is some concern for the baby if they are exposed in the last tri. However, I find myself upset, sometimes full of rage, and have missed three full nights of sleep in the past 10 days. We have a toddler, I work full time, and my husband IS a source of frustration often rather than help/support, but I know a lot of this is my evil anxiety. I would love to hear what anyone else is doing to combat anxiety in the 3rd tri. My psych and perinatalogist both feel the benefit of the med outweighs the risk for me and baby, my OB would rather I didn't take it if not ABSOLUTELY necessary, and I'm just feeling like sh*t.

TIA.

magentawarped · January 2014

I have anxiety and depression, and I've been alternating between preggo rage and uncontrollable weeping for the last couple weeks. At this point, I only have 2 weeks left until my induction, so I'm just basically dealing with it. If you can't function normally, though, you need to take your own well being into account as well as the baby's. I was on anti depressants for the duration of my first pregnancy because I felt that the harm it did for me not being on it was greater than the risk to the baby with me taking it. If you're not healthy, baby isn't healthy. I would have a long hard sit-down with your doc and really weigh the risks.

MoxyByProxy · January 2014

Oops! Hit post too soon!

Has your dr told you what class the lexapro is or given you instructions on how to step off safely?

Im not sure why you would stop if you have two professionals telling you the benefits outweight the risk.

If its negatively effecting you to be off of it.. its bound to effect lo in some capacity.

desertmouse39 · January 2014

Lexapro is a class C for pregnancy, but nearly all the SSRIs maybe with the exception of Prozac, have not really been studied for too long. Prozac is generally NOT indicated for use during pregnancy or BFing. (Zoloft is the only one they know does not transfer into breast milk.) The studies they have done for Lexapro showed that in the third trimester the baby can develop some level of dependency on the medication and this can result in respiratory issues at birth.

I have found that although my doctors are good, they may not always be super well-versed in cross-over between their fields (prenatal care/pregnancy and psychiatry) so I always try to read up on things and get as much information as I can. I stepped down off of the medication last summer with the doctor's supervision and again this December. I was only taking 10 mg so it wasn't too much time to taper off. If I can't manage the rage and insomnia otherwise, I will go back to the medication because I do know that taking care of myself also takes care of my LO, but I just wondered what others have tried that works. I tried relaxation audio last summer, but I would just end up listening to and hour and a half of guided meditations, etc.. and still be wide awake.

The deep breathing/ fast counting is interesting, I'm going to try it tonight.

thanks!

MoxyByProxy · January 2014

I only ask because I too take a class c drug. My neurologist and ob communicate although I am unsure of how closely. I totally get not wanting LO being dependant and because of this my neurologist is 100% formula feeding bc the risks of how it will affect him are just unknown.

Im glad you are working out ways to cope but there is no shame in making sure your health mental or physical a priority too.

Gamera3000 · January 2014

I'm still on 10 mg of lexapro a day. I'm 33 weeks now and my baby is doing really well. I was severely depressed before I got pregnant and didnt fully realize it. I was having weird memory loss and concentration problems. I'm not taking the chance of being like that pregnant or with a baby.

My mom didnt take any meds and extended BF all three of her kids. She also ate completely organic, exercised, read to us, and all the other stuff youre supposed to do. Between the three of us we had severe depression, suicide, autism, obesity and allergies.

I say take care of you. If your kids have problems it's probably not related to little things you did during pregnancy.

desertmouse39 · January 2014

Thanks for your input, mamas - I had an ultrasound yesterday with the perinatologists and the midwife at the practice consulted with me following the ultrasound, which is nice because it's almost always one of the physicians. She agreed that if a low dose of the rx is going to help me be more functioning and better rested, it is indeed better for my baby, too. I am going back to a 5 mg dose to see if that makes a difference. I am also going to try to commit to an extra workout each week and a few more massages to offset my stress. Also, the fast counting/slow breathing did help me fall asleep 2 nights ago...

Baby is doing excellent, has had a huge growth spurt in the past 4 weeks (went from 24th percentile to 38th) and has turned head down and moved a bit lower. I guess if she is getting ready I better be, too!

Want a personalized experience?

If You Have Anxiety/Insomnia...

Re: If You Have Anxiety/Insomnia...

Choose Another Board

Search Boards