Sertraline during pregnancy

[Fern08]

Hi
I had my assessment with the perinatal mental health team and they're talking about prescribing sertraline but asked me to think about it first. The risks are worrying me especially as there are less antenatal appointments now due to covid 19. I'm 21 weeks pregnant so it's a long time to continue suffering but I don't want to feel like I'm putting my baby at risk. Has anyone else been on it during pregnancy?

Following. Sorry I don't have any experience to share but I have also been prescribed sertraline for anxiety and low mood. I'm 33 weeks now and even though they said there is minimal risk to baby now and I know they wouldn't prescribe something dangerous, I'm still nervous to start taking it. I haven't even picked up my prescription yet. The only possible side effect they gave me was that baby may be a little jittery when born. Even though I want to start taking them, I don't want it to have any effect on my baby so I'm completely torn in what to do. Hopefully someone else comes along with some advice

I am nearly 38 weeks pregnant and have been on sertraline since week 7, having switched from venlafaxine (sertraline is far safer during pregnancy). I have had no problems or side effects whatsoever. Apologies for responding to this so late - I hope you already found your answers!

SSRI medications, including sertraline double the risk of autism and we really don't know how they impact kids as they grow.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28917161/
Most such research underplays this because it is pharma funded but risks are real.

Feeling depressed is really hard (I am trying to come off of citalopram before TTC and it is proving horrendous - 2 yrs with very severe withdrawal effects). I wish I had never started the stupid drugs.

It is not unnatural to feel a range of strong emotions in pregnancy. Trying to make yourself feel differently or labeling it depression/anxiety is putting extra pressure on women. As long as you are able to care for yourself, I would not go the drug option.

I would also look for a counselor who deals with such issues and talk these things out. It is quite helpful to express your emotions about pregnancy and birth and relationships. It might not fix everything but we underestimate how fleetinge motions are if we are not scared of them and not beat ourselves up with them.

I had a friend recently who had a really hard time postpartum for about 4 weeks anxiety/depression and she freaked out by her own empotions and what that meant and started beating herself up for feeling that way. Things have resolved since with lots of talking and she and her baby are both doing great at 5 months.

Please take care and know that it's OK to feel down and anxious and those are passing feelings. CBT really helped me accept the feelings which then lost their power over me.

Please don't scare this mama to be.

Your mental health is essential. Doctors wouldn't prescribe sertraline if it wasn't safe for you and your baby.

I take 50mg of sertraline and am hoping to conceive #2 this summer, I won't be coming off it any time soon. At least until I have given birth.

Your health is just as important as your baby's. Take care x

My DD will be 15 in September and I took sertaline from being 12 weeks pregnant until she was about 18 months or so. I breastfed her until she was about a year.

If I hadn't taken sertraline then there is strong chance I would have harmed myself and my unborn child. I think an increased risk of autism was worth it tbh.

DD is probably more anxious than the average person but I am distinctly more anxious than the average person so it's not too surprising.

Still haven't started taking it and terrified to start it now. I'm 30w today and I can feel myself getting more and more poorly. Lots of professionals involved already doing wellbeing checks etc as I was acutely unwell towards the end of last year and was admitted to an inpatient unit. Midwife says about 2% of the drug passes through to the baby during pregnancy and breastfeeding and I need quite a high dose to get the therapeutic benefit so I don't know if it's worth it :( on one hand I know I want to be well but on the other I'd never forgive myself if baby wasn't well and it was because I took medication. Might just try and hold out for the next 10 weeks and start it as soon as she's born x

Please don't leave your mental health untreated. 10 weeks is still a couple of months and really not a good idea to try and power through if you're already struggling!
The doctors wouldn't prescribe something that would pose a big risk to your baby. Prescribing antidepressants in pregnancy is a lot more common than you may think so please don't feel alone or like you're doing something wrong.
Look after yourself

I’m pregnant and taking sertraline. I’ve been on it two years and honestly don’t think I’d be ok without it. I’m very worried about the risks to my baby but I’m totally convinced of the risk to my mental health by stopping.

You e said you need a high dose, why is that? You don’t know how you will metabolise the drug. Some people feel a huge benefit on a low dose. Some people feel nothing until they’re over 200mg. I’m not sure how anyone (esp a MW who has an entirely different field of expertise) could know what dose you need before you start.
Your mental health is incredibly important and there’s a reason these pills are prescribed. X

@Onekidnoclue I've been on it before and needed a high dose then. Came off medication for a little over a year, was medicated briefly with venlafaxine but stopped after a few months of no benefit, just worsening mental health and then a few weeks later I found out I was pregnant and the GP has been reluctant to do a med review. Perinatal MH team psychologist is the person prescribing the medication.

I've got the prescription slip but haven't been to the chemist to pick it up. If I wasn't pregnant I would be taking it without question :( I just feel so guilty! x

Please go and get it. And take it tonight. No good comes of prolonging it and guilt tripping yourself.

Your health is JUST as important as this baby's, if not more. You need to be healthy and happy for your baby.

As I said previously I take 50mg and was very poorly when I started it. I haven't needed to increase my dose, but if I do need to whether I'm pregnant or not, I will do it.

You will thank yourself later I promise you x

And just to put your mind at rest - thousands of women are prescribed sertraline through pregnancy and beyond. It is the known drug for antenatal and postnatal depression, because it works for most of us.

Let us know how you get on x

I’ve just spoken to my midwife about being on sertraline and she was utterly horrified at the idea of my cutting down. She was quite angry about the way maternal mental health is ignored.
Obviously every case is different and I don’t think the anxiety that may come from your concerns over taking the pills but I think you should seriously consider taking the medicine your dr has prescribed. X

I took sertraline the whole way throigh pregnancy. I think if I hadn't there would have been a risk neither I or my baby would be here now.

My little boy is now 4 months old, sociable, happy, amazing baby boy who I adore.

Saying 'double the risk of ASD' makes it sound much more of a risk than it is. The risk is very low, double it and you still have a low risk. There are also extraneous variables that could contribute to that increase that are nothing to do with SSRIs.

If you need the meds, you need the meds. I was the exact same as you, terrified. But I'm so glad I did, because by looking after me, I looked after my baby.

DM me whenever you want x

Hi 🙂 I'm a bit late to this one as I just joined mumsnet but I wanted to say that I'm 8 weeks, 33 years young. I'm on 50mg of this med and I've been on it for a few years now. I had a complete breakdown - hospitalised - 5 years ago and have been on different meds since then but this works best for me. I cried a lot about whether or not to keep taking it when I found out I was pregnant but like the other ladies have said, if you need it you need it. I had to let go of the anxiety around the intense literature around the possible risks, most of the studies they quote are random with 1 study being done here and there. I decided stress would do more harm than this med and with all the other changes I've made, quitting smoking and caffeine, and really intense all day morning sickness, this is the one thing I allow myself. I'm scared of the impact on the baby like you, but if my mind cracks again that will be more harmful. No doubt about it. Anyway, not sure if this helps but I wanted to share to show support for your experience. Take care and you're not alone. I feel less alone reading all these comments 🙂 so thanks for sharing too x

Hi, I'm new to this only just signed up. Wanted to try speak to people who are in aa similar situation to me. I've worried about being on sertraline through pregnancy but can't seem to cope anxiety wise without the help. I was on 100mg but reduced to 75mg and then 50mg. I tried to start weaning myself off for worry regarding withdrawal effects for baby but starting to feel anxiety again. After reading alot of people's stories it makes me feel a bit better about thinking of increasing again. My other worry is my partner doesn't know I'm back on my sertraline, hes very supportive and loving and I can't fault him but he's a worrier and automatically will feel it will harm the baby so can't tell him. Do I have the right to tell the midwife and everyone involved in my care at the time that it is confidential and for him to not know? Any response would be great to speak to others going through similar feelings and situations as it is difficult to talk to and explain to others.

I was on this threw out my first baby and will be on it now I’m having my 2nd have been taken it for 6 years sometimes come off it and the only side effect I get going back on it is extremely thirsty for about 2 weeks but it wears off hope all goes well xx

I came off it then had to go back on again as things were deteriorating badly, I feel the same but objectively the risks are very low. It’s so tough though, I wouldn’t forgive myself if something went wrong because of it. I’m sure there must however be worse medication which women absolutely have to stay on (thinking epilepsy??) and no one says to them they should just opt not to take it and suffer the health consequences

Hi there. Thanks for your post. I am 10 weeks pregnant with my 1st. I tried my best not to take anything but after 5 weeks I felt I couldn't cope. I am on 50mg serimel too and quite worried about the side effects. I am wondering how your pregnancy went and of course how your new baby is doin?

Thanks