Antidepressants & pregnancy

[ourmamageddon]

I came off ADs about 4 months ago but feel like I should be back on them - terrible anxiety and bad thoughts. I just wish I could see a time when I won't need them and also would love another baby. Was hoping for mood to settle and maybe trying a year from now. Now just feel really defeated and like I'll always be on them and probably shouldn't have another baby. Has anyone stayed on ADs while pregnant? Is it safe?

The only AD believed to be 'safe' in pregnancy is Fluoxetine. You ought to have a lengthy discussion with your doctor or consultant (if you have one) and see what your options are in terms of treatment. For example, might you benefit from talking therapies such as counselling or CBT?

That's not quite true; sertraline is also safe in pregnancy and is usually the preferred option. I'm 37 weeks and have been on the max dose throughout without any issues. It's also fine for breastfeeding. Wishing you well OP; I'm sorry you've found the last few months so hard

I took citalopram for duration of pregnancy on dr and midwife advice. No issues at all, son now 5 months.
I had come off previously while TTC and had terrible relapse.

I was actually taken off of fluoxetine as it has links to heart defects, and put onto sertraline. I couldn't have gone forward with the pregnancy without something.

I took Sertraline throughout my first pregnancy, whilst breastfeeding and now whilst pregnant with my second. The doctors/midwife was brilliant and very supportive. They helped me make an informed choice into which was the safest AD to take and I have an appointment every few weeks with the same doctor to check how I am.

I don't regret it at all, it has made my pregnancy/life 1000x better with no bad effect!

Also to add sorry, Sertraline is the preferred AD throughout pregnancy - and one of the most studied

I became pregnant following rape (MAP didn't work) .

At that time I was on 300mg Venlafaxine and 30mg mirtazipine, a very high dose of last resort medications. Because I was so traumatised at the time, they did not change the dose. DD was and is healthy (6 now) and was 10lb at birth.

The doctors weighed up the risks to my MH against evidence of risk to my LO and decided accordingly.

The negatives were...
I couldn't collect a prescription without a lecture and a call to my CPN.
I couldn't breast feed as the drug doses in breast milk were too high (guilt/shame for this given today's societal expectations)
I carried excessive amniotic fluid and had frequent scans.

Obviously I have no idea of the long term effects, but we had no choice, i wanted her to live and she wanted to too.

You must talk to your GP asap as hormones can make things worse without you keeping such insight. You aren't doing anything wrong, the opposite is true actually.

I'm currently 28 weeks and have been taking citalopram throughout. I checked with my GP, midwife and consultant as was really quite anxious about it. There was a brief suggestion of changing but my risk of relapse is too high and the risk of any issues so low that I've stayed on it. It's good you know yourself you feel like you might need it. Get yourself to the GP/whoever it is you deal with and have a chat. Sure they'll be super understanding. ❤️

This is really re-assuring, thank you everyone. I think I'll go to GP and discuss sertraline as an option, at least then I won't feel like I have to rule out another baby.

@chickenyhead I can't imagine how that must have felt. Hope everything is good for the both of you now after an incredibly rough start ❤️

Been to the GP and started on sertraline

I took fluoxetine throughout my pregnancy after taking advice from GP. Couldn’t have done pregnancy without it. Little boy is 4 weeks today and has had no effects from it.

So glad to hear it, now relax, it will be monitored closely and you can enjoy being pregnant maybe.

TY it was hard, but she is lovely, sometimes xxx