bfeeding, PND and anti depressents, URGENT advice wanted please

[4madboys]

hi i am posting this on behalf of a friend, she is bfeeding her 7mth old, who is pretty much exclusively bfed, (doing BLW) and she has been suffering from quite bad pnd, feeling suicidal, unable to cope etc.

she has been backward and forwards to her gp who have been useless pretty much.

she went again today and they have said she MUST stop bfeeding and start taking citalopram and she is on the 'waiting list' to see a psychiatrist oh and she can have counselling if she pays for it....

she REALLY REALLY REALLY DOES NOT WANT TO STOP BFEEDING, is absolutely gutted, so i said i would ask here and see if this medication is ok with feeding or if there is an alternative, and get her some advice that she can take back to her gp.

so please help

[vonsudenfed]

hurrah for her - and for you for being such a good and concerned friend. We can take out her GP later on...

[thehappyprince]

This is a well respected professional journal - what most psychiatrists in the UK read monthly. Here's a link to an article on breastfeeding and medication for anyone who wants an uptodate review. No reason to stop bf with most drugs, certainly citalopram unless mother is particularly against it once given info. As with any med in bf, studies to prove which are / aren't harmful are unethical so have to go on case reports. Bear in mind how many women suffer from PND and need treatment, fact that so few problems are reported both in pregnancy and bf suggests they are safe.
apt.rcpsych.org/cgi/reprint/11/5/371?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&author1=kohen&searchid =1&FIRSTINDEX=0&sortspec=relevance&resourcetype=HWCIT

[FourArms]

I exclusively bf DS2 until a year old (didn't have any solids due to reflux), and took sertraline. No effects on bfing, and no noticeable effects on DS2. The effect on me is nothing short of miraculous!

I hope that your friend gets the help that she and her family deserve

[LackaDAISYcal]

yay for your friend 4madboys, and i echo all that's been said about you being a truly good and concerned friend

now tell her to get herself registered with mumnset pronto

[MrsJohnCusack]

oh well, perhaps you'd be happy to take the advice of my 2 (different) GPs on both sides of the world re citalopram and breastfeeding, which basically agrees with all the info on this thread and NOT with the GP in question

my first GP had just been to a medical conference on the very subject and so was completely up on all the latest research. So take the word of my GPs then

you're a good friend 4 madboys and I hope she continues to improve

[VictorianSqualor]

That's great 4madboys
Have you thought of suggesting she speak to someone at the BfN who could possibly speak to her doc or HV?
The BfN are pretty clued up when it comes to meds and BFing.
Someone linked you to them at the very beginning of this thread or their drugs helpline number is 0844 412 4665

[expatinscotland]

Good for your friend!