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April 2019 Moms
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Depression and Anxiety Meds

dapoint23dapoint23 member
in April 2019 Moms
Hi everyone! I kind of disappeared for a little while.
Here's the story and my question is at the bottom if you'd like to skip:
I have struggled with depression and anxiety since I was a young teen. I have finally found my "happy place" with 30mg of Prozac. My obgyn had told me while we were TTC that Prozac is fine and I could stay on it. I told my psychiatrist this and he was ok with it. Well, my psychiatrist suddenly passed away. I was handed over to the psychiatrist covering for him (finding one that takes my insurance with less than a 2 year wait is not easy). When I first saw this new one I had just found out I was pregnant. The first words out of his mouth were literally "Oh that's not good." He wanted me off the Prozac fast and said usually during pregnancy depression symptoms wouldnt be as bad. I did inform.him the first time I ever had a panic attack was while pregnant, but off the meds I went.  As I tapered off I could feel the difference and by the time I was down to 10mg for a few days my anxiety was through the roof and I was massively depressed and spent most of the day in bed. Of course he's on vacation, so I can't get help from him. I got an emergency appointment to see my OBGYN (bc she's always booked) and she seemed really annoyed he took me off Prozac. Anyway I'm back up to 20mg and am feeling like myself again.


My question is... has anyone else been on Prozac/fluoxetine while pregnant? What was your experience?
Also, is anyone else being taken off medication and having a difficult time?
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Re: Depression and Anxiety Meds

  • mels823mels823 member
    I’m being taken off of Effexor and am NOT having an easy go of it! I’ve done it for my last two pregnancies so I know I can do it, but ugh. The process sucks. In my experience it hasn’t been so bad after the first few weeks though! Hang in there!!
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  • dapoint23dapoint23 member
    @mels823 do you transfer to anything else or just wait until baby is born?
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  • jrm_14jrm_14 member
    After long discussions with my OBGYN, PCP, MFM, & RE, I’m staying on Effexor for my pregnancy. It’s a risk-benefit. No one has the exact science & answers. You have to do what is best for you, bc that’s hopefully what will be best for baby. Clearly, going off yor medication had some serious impacts. I’m sorry you’re struggling and left in this position, between two doctors. Therapy is always a great supplement to medication, too !
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  • jrm_14jrm_14 member
    @mels823 If you’re willing to share (or PM), what specific reasons lead you to go off Effexor during pregnancy, rather than general risk reduction?  

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  • dapoint23dapoint23 member
    @jrm_14 thank you! That's what it came down to... the risks of me being on it did not outweigh the risks off it... and I also see a counselor for therapy once a month which is very helpful :)
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  • jrm_14jrm_14 member
    @dapoint23 That’s where I’m at with it, too- risk of being off it is outweighing being on it. I hope that you’re able to  find some symptom relief soon. 
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  • dapoint23dapoint23 member
    @jrm_14 I'm back on the Prozac and doing much much better... it's also fun to try to figure out which are depression/anxiety symptoms and which are pregnancy mood swings lol
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  • mels823mels823 member
    @dapoint23 @jrm_14 basically my doctor told me there was really nothing to worry about now, she said any negative side effects seen on Effexor which are still very rare are more around 3rd tri. It’s just a personal decision I made. I am such a worrier and just knew that for my own sanity it would be best I go back on after the births, but have been staying at a relatively lower dosage than I had taken pre kids. My doc says that if I really start taking a turn for the worse she will put me back on it because in that case the benefits would outweigh the risks!
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  • thatbaintforbettythatbaintforbetty member
    It’s my understanding that Prozac is one of the milder and safer for pregnancy anti-depressants. It’s weird to me that your doc would want you to quit. My mom takes Paxil which is a class C drug and if I remember right they put her Prozac when she was pregnant with my younger siblings. (They are 8 and 10) 

    I think I remember my doc saying it’s what they wanted to put me on last time if I felt like my depression getting bad again. 
    this is my backup acct.
    prevously helloblueeyes

    Me:32 DH:33 Married:04/2012 DD:07/2014 
     BFP 8/14/2018 #2 due 4/18/2019
    Lilypie Pregnancy tickers
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  • dapoint23dapoint23 member
    @kangstadt I think that would be great!
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  • molecularmollymolecularmolly member
    BEST THING EVER:

    Mothertobaby - FREE expert advice about medications during pregnancy and breast feeding!!!!
    Mothertobaby.org

    I am seriously in love with them right now for putting my mind at ease, and giving me all the latest research in an easy format! Plus the lady I talked to on the phone and have been emailing with is so kind :-)
    I think if they accept donations they are going on our monthly charitable giving budget, what an amazing service!

    Personally I'm on Latuda (not studied...too new :-/), Wellbutrin (generally safe, a few risks if taken 3rd Tri), And I just stopped Prozac (because I've actually done BETTER when we reduced it, a crazy psychiatrist put me on it a year ago, then I switched docs *phew*) (also generally safe btw).

    If you don't feel like calling or chatting with them (which I do highly recommend doing, their level of knowledge about exactly what the risks *mean* and how to deal with them is phenomenal) you can find a fact sheet about a lot of meds that you can look at and share with your doctor.

    They are also happy to consult with medical professionals (cough cough, your OB @dapoint23). We all know doctors are busy and you may have to really sell it to them, but I think it's worth it for real evidence based care!! (How can you weigh the risks/benefits without actually having an idea of the risks?!?)

    Ok rant over. I've been very excited about this service and trying to find the right place to post it. :-D

    @kangstadt I think a mental health check in would be wonderful <3


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  • BarefootContessaBarefootContessa member
    Hey @dapoint23 , not on prozac but on my fourth pregnancy with lexapro. Just wanted to give you a shout out for making you and your mental health a priority!

    Married: 11/2011
    DS-9/2012
    DD-7/2015
    Sweet Angel Boy born too soon 12/17/17
    EDD-4/2019

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  • dapoint23dapoint23 member
    @barefootcontessa thank you! It to pod after my 2nd to finally start meds and it should've happened years ago
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  • dapoint23dapoint23 member
    *ppd
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  • kitkat8387kitkat8387 member
    I took Zoloft during my pregnancy with DS and am now on Prozac (20mg) and plan to stay on for the rest of this pregnancy. Prozac and Zoloft are known to be 2 of the "safest" pregnancy SSRI's (I say "safest" because they are still category C - we don't really know but no proven risk has been found). My doctors have all been very supportive of me staying on my medications during pregnancy. A healthy mother is super important for a healthy pregnancy, and that includes mental health. <3 
    BabyFruit Ticker
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  • dapoint23dapoint23 member
    @molecularmolly I just checked out that site and it's awesome!
    It's my psychiatrist I take issue ... he just met me and took me off meds very fast
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  • atjengaatjenga member
    I'm also on my fourth pregnancy with Lexapro. I generally try to reduce the amount to the lowest helpful level. For me it's one of those times where the benefits outweigh the risks. I think sometimes practitioners that aren't really familiar with a case go overboard. 
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  • molecularmollymolecularmolly member
    @dapoint23 That's so annoying, psychiatrist should definitely understand the importance of mental health!! Uuugh, I feel like so many don't though :-/. He probably also was afraid of liability, and doesn't actually know anything about it, if you have to go back to him maybe share the fact sheet with him and/or have him call them?
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  • whats0nemorewhats0nemore member
    @kangstadt I would like that idea! 

    Myself, i’m on generic Lexapro. I’m on it for anxiety that shows as rage. I haven’t talked to my doctor yet so we’ll see what they would like to do. 
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  • blueberrymommablueberrymomma member
    I too have been on Lexapro (during my second pregnancy). I had no issues with it but I do take the lowest dose. I went off it in May to see how I would do. I was fine until I became pregnant and now my anxiety is back. I’m going to talk to my OBGYN at my first appointment because it’s starting to affect my daily life. She is very familiar with my anxiety. I get pretty bad PPA so I know I will have to go on after birth anyways

    OP I would keep looking for a new doctor who takes your insurance or have your OB refer you to one(sometimes you get in sooner with a referral). 
    Report Reply
  • dapoint23dapoint23 member
    @baya5 I'm definitely still looking, but unfortunately I'm "lucky" that I was able get him to take me on.
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  • squirttheturtlesquirttheturtle member
    I am on Zoloft 100mg and have been since about 4 month PP (was on Lexapro before that since 6w PP).  I haven't had my first appointment yet, but will likely go down to 50 and stay there.  I had a rough go PP and when my son weaned, but was fine during pregnancy (was off meds 6 months before getting KU and thru my PG).  My anxiety has increased 10fold since he was born and I can function.  Its better for us all.
    ME: 34 | DH: 36
    Married: 6/2016
    TTC:6/2016
    BFP: 11/22/2016 | EDD: 7/29/2017






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  • lovelybabybumpzlovelybabybumpz member
    I’m on sertraline (generic Zoloft). I have a call into the advice line to see if I should be reconsidering. I originally went on it for PP depression because it was the “safest” while breastfeeding. Not sure about its track record with pregnancy. 
    Me: 36 & DH: 40
    Married: November 2015
    DD 10/19/2016
    BFP:  8/20/2018 - EDD 5/4/2019
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  • StarIzInkdStarIzInkd member
    I had started seeing a Psychiatrist in May when I found out my dad was sick. We were about to start IVF treatments and so the Dr refused to put me on anything. She said that when women come to her trying to get pregnant she takes them off of everything. My RE felt I needed a specialist then as she felt I needed to be on an anti-depressant/anxiety. None of the specialists took my insurance though so I kept going to this Psychiatrist. a week before my IVF transfer was so bad I BEGGED for help and she finally put me on 20mg of Prozac. I am currently on 10mg though as the side effects were too rough for me and I am now refusing to go back to 20. I am feeling much better a month in. Just like you wondering how everyone else handles this. Best wishes to you.
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