Depression/anxiety Medicine?!

KJH23 · July 2014

I obviously plan on talking to my midwife and would never quit cold turkey, but I just wanted other thoughts/input... I have always taken depression and/or anxiety medicine since I was a teenager with the exception of being pregnant with my DS. I managed to go off 1 month before I was pregnant with him and kept off of it my whole pregnancy. I developed PPD really bad after him and have since been on medicine again. I talked to my doctor when we were trying, and she mentioned that while Wellbutrin isn't their main choice it should be okay to take during pregnancy. I started to research online and of course it made my anxiety sky high. It's almost like either way on or off medicine my anxiety will be through the roof. Is anyone else stressing about this or is it just me?! Do you have plans to wean off, or are you planning on staying on?

antsangel1118 · July 2014

I don't have any experience, but if you are worried about it and don't want to wait till you go see your OB, I would just put in a call to see what they recommend.

KJH23 · July 2014

Thanks ladies! I called first thing this morning and my midwife is out of the office for a bit, go figure, so I go in 2 weeks for my visit. The other midwife suggested that I stay on it and not wean off. I am naturally a very worrisome and anxious person and I think I just work my self up too much

thanks again

EDWHIP · July 2014

I was on 40mg of celexa last year. I knew I wanted to get pregnant again and talked to my therapist about it. She recommended I go down to 20mg. I plan to be on 20mg throughout my pregnancy and for the first 6 months after. Sometimes being on some meds is better than no meds.

NM303 · July 2014

I'm on Zoloft with my second pregnancy and also took it with my first. My OB said it is her anti-depressant of choice.

KJH23 · July 2014

I think Zoloft is my midwifes medicine of choice too so I will see about maybe switching. Thank you!

NatalieS2008 · September 2014

Anyone taken 50mg of trazodone (for sleep) and I just started effexor 37.5 due to crazy anxiety... Wondering if you're children are healthy??

jacqueleen1 · September 2014

I was on lexapro and a large dose of trazodone for sleep. My OB recommended I definitely come off the trazodone and also off the lexapro once I was weaned off that. She then put me on zoloft which is the only antidepressant she feels comfortable prescribing a pregnant mother. You need to decide if the benefits outweigh the risks. For me if I had the feelings of anxiety I have unmedicated it would be worse for my unborn. The only thing that sucks is I could no longer sleep without the trazodone but am starting to now

akj166 · September 2014

I am also on a small dose 37.5mg of Zoloft for anxiety. This is my first pregnancy and I agree that you must weigh the pros and cons. As long as your dr is aware and you are being monitored, I wouldn't worry to much about it.

Skrittens · September 2014

I am prescribed Klonapin and adderall. I have been on Theraputic doses for years with no addiction and an extremely slow tolerance build. My psychiatrist made me quit cold turkey. He thinks any level of risk is too high for me since it was so hard for me to become pregnant. My perinatologist thinks it might be dangerous for me not to take Klonapin as the medicine itself is relatively safe - esp after the 1st tri - especially at Theraputic (non-abusive) doses - and also thinks it would be beneficial to be back on the adderall. So I don't know what to do. I don't want to dr shop but we (including my perinatologist) are very concerned about ppd. I have some Klonapin left over so I take one when I have terrible anxiety attacks but am kind of nervous - I don't want to hurt little Rooblet, but I need help - and all the mindfulness, meditation, skills and talk therapy in the world doesn't do it alone for me.

jlguccione · September 2014

I am a mess without mine. I take Prozac and took it through my last pregnancy and all was well.

Mary and Dave · September 2014

I have depression/anxiety, fibromyalgia, and a handful of autoimmune disorders. When I got my BFP I was on Effexor, Xanax, and Sevela. My doctor and I chose to wean off of both medicines. I was very nervous to wean off of Effexor. A few years ago my primary care doc decided to switch out Effexor for a different medication and my body freaked out. I ended up being admitted to a psychiatric hospital for five days to be monitored. We took the weaning process much slower this time around, and I did much better.

We are keeping a very close eye on the depression and anxiety. If it starts to become unmanageable, I will not hesitate to go back on whatever meds my doctors recommend.

Whitfry · September 2014

I was on a relatively high dose of trazadone and quit cold-turkey when I got my BFP. For sleep I currently take unisom, which is helping me white-knuckle through my chronic insomnia. There are some anti-depressants that are ok during pregnancy, your midwife or doctor will be able to help you find something low-risk.

I am, surprisingly, not struggling at all with my severe depressive disorder. I think the pregnancy hormone cocktail mix agrees with me. I'm afraid of the post-partum depression I am likely to have, though.

The thing that keeps me up at night in terror is the thought of passing my depressive disorder to my child. I struggled so hard in such a dark place before I got healthy, and it kills me that this might be a legacy I will pass down. Mental illness runs in my family, and the thought of my baby eventually going through anything like I have is the only reason I have ever considered not having kids.

crunchymamaof2 · September 2014

@whitfry inhave the same fears. Mental illness and addiction are very prevalent on my side and I'm terrified my child will go through any of one issues. I tell myself that because I have such an in depth understanding of both I can most likely catch any issues with my kids early and get them the help they need, if that were to happen.

OP- I'm on Zoloft and methadone. Surprisingly enough my OB was more concerned with the Zoloft but I've done my research, talked with other providers, and am comfortable with the slight risk. I've spoken with a couple pediatricians and they have never encountered a baby having to be in the nicu due to Zoloft. I've had a baby in the nicu due to withdrawals and it's not something I'm willing to risk. I've slowly been decreasing my methadone and should be done in the next 12 weeks. Unless there was a significant risk I would definitely not lower or stop my Zoloft at the same time. Stopping a medication too fast or cold turkey can be just as harmful, if not more so, than staying on it. You need to decide, with your doctor, what the best plan of action is for you.

thejucheidea · September 2014

No fucking way am I going off my Lamictal and Wellbutrin. Everyone agrees that it's safer for me and baby to be on my meds, not stop them.

Do NOT stop taking your psych meds without long consultation with both your OB and your psychiatrist. That's a formula for disaster.

MalVough · September 2014

I am staying on depression medication. For now. I'll slowly be weened off it when we reach the 3rd trimester so the little troublemaker has no withdraw symptoms.

I stopped several medications because they are Class D. But one medication, which isn't a Class D, is sticking around.

I talked to my psychologist and OB. Everyone is on the same page.

PuppyLove84 · September 2014

When I found out I was pregnant, I met with my psychiatrist and we decided that I would wean off of my Effexor for at least the first trimester. In the past, I have been ok unmedicated for 4-6 months before I relapse, so that played a large role in our thought process. So far I have struggled, but meeting with a therapist and starting to feel better physically have both seemed to help with my depression. I'm meeting with my psychiatrist again in a few weeks and we'll discuss when I want to go back on meds and which one. We're leaning towards a low dose of Zoloft in the third trimester because I'm afraid of PPD, but haven't settled on anything yet. Could be sooner if my symptoms come back. Both my OB and my psychiatrist were insistent that if I felt I needed to, I could go back on meds at any time. In fact my OB wanted me to stay on them. I'm good with my decision for now, but I won't hesitate to go back on my meds if needed and even for prevention. I think it's a very personal decision and different for each expecting mother, but I would definitely consult my doctor(s) before making it.

Unknown · September 2014

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mem0601 · September 2014

My anxiety has been terrible my whole life (social phobia, borderline traits, as well as depression are the DX's I have been given). I was on Effexor, Klonopin, Perphenazine, Ambien/Lunesta/Seroquel (depending on which RX I had for that month), and Gabapentin. The psychiatrist switched me to Buspar alone and removed all of the other meds about 1.5 months ago when I found out I was pregnant. I am completely non-functional. I have phobias about going out in the sunlight, stress excessively about wrinkles on my forehead, do not and will not talk to anyone on the phone, I become extremely hypersensitive and anxious around people that I rarely leave the house, and worse is that the prohibitive anxiety is making my depression flare up. I'm also irritable and easily agitated without the Perphenazine. My business is not doing very well at this point because it's the type of work that's socially intensive for me (I am a mental health therapist - yes, I know that's ironic) and I can't be around people without freaking out or acting awkward. My pills were miraculous.... People who have seen my behaviors now versus previously have been shocked. I somehow managed to convince people that I was friendly, fun, social, competent, effective, intelligent, and a number of other great things. Now I'm like a squishy lame scared worm. I miss my medication :-(

crunchymamaof2 · September 2014

@mem0601 I think it's time to get a second opinion or at least ask about alternatives if you're level of functioning is this low, I hope you start feeling better soon.

thejucheidea · September 2014

mem0601 said:

My anxiety has been terrible my whole life (social phobia, borderline traits, as well as depression are the DX's I have been given). I was on Effexor, Klonopin, Perphenazine, Ambien/Lunesta/Seroquel (depending on which RX I had for that month), and Gabapentin. The psychiatrist switched me to Buspar alone and removed all of the other meds about 1.5 months ago when I found out I was pregnant. I am completely non-functional. I have phobias about going out in the sunlight, stress excessively about wrinkles on my forehead, do not and will not talk to anyone on the phone, I become extremely hypersensitive and anxious around people that I rarely leave the house, and worse is that the prohibitive anxiety is making my depression flare up. I'm also irritable and easily agitated without the Perphenazine. My business is not doing very well at this point because it's the type of work that's socially intensive for me (I am a mental health therapist - yes, I know that's ironic) and I can't be around people without freaking out or acting awkward. My pills were miraculous.... People who have seen my behaviors now versus previously have been shocked. I somehow managed to convince people that I was friendly, fun, social, competent, effective, intelligent, and a number of other great things. Now I'm like a squishy lame scared worm. I miss my medication :-(

Of all medications, why would they stick you on something as milquetoast as BuSpar? You were rocking the heavy guns there, and BuSpar, especially alone, is just such a joke.

You may need to get a second opinion psychiatrist STAT.

mem0601 · September 2014

Thanks guys, it's good to get input. I heard Buspar was weak and the method of action clearly is different, but various practitioners just emphasize that it's something I'm not used to and won't work like a benzodiazepine. They said to give it time. I have not seen any actual human reports or studies beyond bunny rabbit studies that stated benzodiazapines had negative effects, however, the animal trial at dosages which are very high for such a small animal landed benzodiazapines a category D in safety. Antidepressants are sketchy too. It's super frustrating.

lele023 · September 2014

I went off my anxiety medicine as a choice. Dr supervised this, didn't quit cold turkey, but it was a super fast wean. I have more bad days than good days. Hoping it's easier for you!

mem0601 · September 2014

That was a good article, thank you.

crunchymamaof2 · September 2014

I agree 110% with @wonknessmonster‌. Benzos carry some risk, yes, but even my midwife last time was okay with me using them on occasion if needed. Even if you use them just to get through the really bad days, at a bare minimums but please seek another opinion. There is no need for you, or anyone. To suffer this badly. Hugs.

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