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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Tell me your experiences of ADs and breastfeeding please

106 replies

hunkermunker · 07/04/2006 08:55

Thank you Smile

OP posts:
ItalianJob · 07/04/2006 09:26

Not sure if this is quite what you are after, as I 6nly breastfed for a few weeks for various reasons, none of which connected to the ADs. Because I was taking Prozac in late PG, the psychiatrist was positively encouraging about BFing, on the basis that if I Bfed that would miniminise any prozac withdrawal effects on my baby shortly after the birth. Psych, his pharmacist and obs/gynae consultant were all happy for me to bf whilst on ADs.

georginarf · 07/04/2006 09:33

I breastfed DD until 10 months whilst on Lustral (Sertraline) for PND - started taking them about 4 months in I think.

According to my GP, sertraline is recommended, he'd just been on a conference where they discussed recent research on this very subject. it does go through to the baby, but in very tiny amounts which don't affect the baby and the many benefits of breastfeeding far outweigh this. GP also agreed that the benefits for ME managing my PND and being able to continue breastfeeding (which was very important to me, DD stopped at 10 months not me!). Also much better for DD to have a mother not suffering from PND.

is that the kind of thing you're after? It really worked for us. Now gradually coming off the ADs, DD is 16 months. They've been fab

ItalianJob · 07/04/2006 09:34

I was told the same as georgina re:research findings on ADs and bfing.

bakedpotato · 07/04/2006 09:52

I fed DS while on dothiepin/dosulepin from 5 wks to 8 mths.
Was started on sertraline, but I had a bad reaction.
Why?

PiccadillyCircus · 07/04/2006 09:54

Started taking sertraline when 12 weeks pregnant. Still taking sertraline and DD is 28 weeks old. And still breastfeeding.

PiccadillyCircus · 07/04/2006 09:57

And the ADs do really help me.

tangerinecath · 07/04/2006 09:57

Georginarf - sounds like you had a very sensible GP. When I presented with PND I was told that I couldn't take AD's until I stopped breastfeeding. I then got much worse because it was such a struggle to get dd to accept a bottle Sad so that I could start taking the AD's. I've since started seeing another gp (at the same practise) who is much more sympethetic and knowledgable about this kind of thing.

So I suppose it very much depends on your doctor.

Are you OK hunkermunker? IIRC you had a baby recently.

Original poster
hunkermunker · 07/04/2006 10:03

Thank you.

Yes, I'm OK. Or I will be...!

HV said that she was worried if I took ADs I'd stop bfeeding (ha!) - it sounds like my surgery aren't very up on what is OK to prescribe when bfeeding.

So I thought I'd do some research. And where better place to ask than MN?!

Smile
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georginarf · 07/04/2006 10:07

hmm does your HV KNOW you??? (have read your threads about GD and breastfeeding)

It's fine. I was all geared up with research when I went, but the GPs rather took the wind out of my sails! The one who went to a conference is acutally a complete git, but my GP (who's totally fab) knew all about the conference he'd been to. They look it up in their book which tells all the side effects/interactions, and I think if they're not totally up on the whole thing, the book just tells you that the ADs get through to the baby and they panic rather....

Original poster
hunkermunker · 07/04/2006 10:11

ROFL. Yes, HV is getting to know me, shall we say...

The thought of stopping bfeeding fills me with despair. So I shan't. Until DS2 wants to stop, obv. When I shall roam the streets looking for babies to nurse so that their mothers can come on here and start threads about me Wink

It's just the unspeakable rage I can't manage. That and the sleeplessness even when DS2 is asleep. And the tears that drip off my chin at inappropriate moments. And I still can't get my head around it being an illness and not a weakness. I can for other people. But not for me. Weirdy, aren't I?! Grin

I'm not even sure that ADs will do me much good - I've taken amitryptiline and paroxetine for very short periods in the past (paroxetine was only one tablet), although not for depression and had very odd side effects from them, so it could be that this is all academic!

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PiccadillyCircus · 07/04/2006 10:14

Hunkermunker, the anger was what made me realise that I had to do something about my illness. And the ADs really really helped. It took a few weeks but I am a much more calm person now.

And no one has ever suggested I should stop breastfeeding.

tangerinecath · 07/04/2006 10:16

I really hope that you find something that suits you. I took escitalopram and didn't really have any side effects from it. Started on a lowish dose and worked up. I'm currently coming off them... slowly... but they really helped.

Good luck :)

ItalianJob · 07/04/2006 10:17

paroxetine (seroxat) is a very odd one - it has a very short half life, which I think probably causes more side effects than other SSRIs. had some erm delightful side effects on it myself - feeling dizzy if I was more than 1/2 hour late taking it, feeling like the skin on my face was too tight. fortunately didn't have any problems coming off it (thought it would be a nightmare). amitriptylline definitely isn't an SSRI - IIRC it's a tricyclic, so again is likely to have completely different side effects to something like Prozac or Sertraline.

Original poster
hunkermunker · 07/04/2006 10:20

IJ, I felt like there was someone standing just behind me the whole time after taking paroxetine. Was really, really weird and v creepy.

PC, the rage, the unspeakable rage! Calm sounds good to me. I'm fine atm and can't imagine feeling so angry...but I know I do!

Thanks TC. It does help to hear other people's experiences, definitely. I feel better prepared.

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georginarf · 07/04/2006 10:22

My doctors don't prescibe seroxat any more because of the side effects and the difficulty coming off it - DH took it for years, his life is so much better now he's on citalopram (sp?)

HM, it was the apoplectic fury that made me finally seek help. And I was the same, thought it was weakness and not illness. You know it's not really. HOpefully your GP will insist you have some sort of counselling too, as ADs alone won't sort it. And you have to stick at them - I felt quite gruesome for about a week but I was prepared for this, and it was well worth it. You have to give them a chance, one or two days just won't do it

ItalianJob · 07/04/2006 10:23

yikes HM, sounds like I probably got off lightly with the Paroxetine then! I really would say to anyone to take it as a last resort - i.e. only if doc has compelling reasons as to why this would be better than the other SSRIs.

Original poster
hunkermunker · 07/04/2006 10:28

GA, that's good to know too - re it taking a while. I have a GP appointment next week and HV is going to continue to see me (she's good, I like her) so think I'm pretty well-supported. Feel very lucky really - and then very guilty - I have family nearby, two beautiful boys who are very "good" children, what do I have to feel so appalling about (apart from a total lack of money - the send hunker a quid campaign hasn't worked at all Sad)!

This is what makes me more inclined to believe it's not outside pressures but a chemical imbalance...but I still can't truly believe it. Gah!

OP posts:
ItalianJob · 07/04/2006 10:38

Yes, it can take a couple of weeks for side effects on starting to settle down, and between 2 - 6 weeks for SSRIs to start working. Tricyclics probably start working sooner, but are likely to have more side effects.

ItalianJob · 07/04/2006 10:39

probably worth getting GP to do a full blood count, to check for underactive thyroid/anaemia, as they can sometimes cause symptoms that mimic depression/anxiety.

Original poster
hunkermunker · 07/04/2006 10:40

Good point, IJ. Thanks.

OP posts:
georginarf · 07/04/2006 10:41

oh yes, hopefully they'll do that anyway (the blood tests) but do remind them

it is chemical, it is HM. Honestly. It's horrible, but dealing with it is the best thing you can do.

colditz · 07/04/2006 10:45

Oh, Hunker you have my total empathy.

I can so relate to the rage, and the feeling of "weakness". It's part of the illness, that feeling of weakness. Keep telling yourself you deserve just as much good treatment, rest, help and support as everyone else, and don't let yourself treat yourself worse than you would anyone else.

JoolsToo · 07/04/2006 10:47

Sorry to hear you're feeling like this hunker - I've suffered from depression in the dim and distant past (thankfully).

Hope you're soon feeling tip top Smile

tangerinecath · 07/04/2006 11:00

Funny isn't it, if you had a chemical imbalance that resulted in a physical problem rather than a mental one then there would be no problem admitting that you needed help. I was exactly the same.

Because it's a mental thing it's so much harder.

So glad you're getting help, hunker, it will make such a difference to your life.

Original poster
hunkermunker · 07/04/2006 11:14

Thank you all again.

Ahem.

Yes, if it was physical, I'd "believe" it more.

I just feel guilty for not coping. It's almost worse knowing why I feel like this and still bloody feeling it!

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