Anyone taking Citalapram while TTC or pregnant? Very concerned/confused!

[Damash12]

Hi In the past 12 months I have experienced the loss of my Mum, and miscarriage at 12 weeks and although I have desperately tried to pick myself up over the last past year and avoid taking antidepressants but it has got to the stage where I am so down, paniciky and upset. I am also 40 and upset at every passing month that goes by without a positive result as I feel time is passing me by. I spoke to my consultant who I saw during my miscarriage and I was advised Citalapram is ok to take for the first 20 weeks. However, I have looked on the internet and found many positive and many horror stories regarding Citalapram in pregnancy but these are from a few yeas ago and I was wondering if there are any recent findings. I believe I need to take this medication to help with my grief and depression but I in no way want to affect or harm my baby should I get pregnant.
Really unsure what to do, I have taken my first tablet this morning but after seeing some of the stories regarding the risks I am thinking of not taking anymore. As anyone else taken this and had no adverse affects. Please reply

x

yes i have and there are a few threads on here about it :)

i had pnp after baby no 4 and was on citalopram, i discussed with my cpn and mh team having no 5 and there view was to stay on a low dose just to help keep my mh in check whilst preg, i did so, my gp wasnt happy about it but i went with the consultant and the mh team.

there is a SLIGHT risk the baby can have withdrawl symptoms after birht this is VERY small but meant i had to stay in for 24hrs once my baby was born so they could moniter her, we stayed on a regular post natal ward and i bfed (which may help negate the effects of withdrawl) and the midwifes just checked on her every few hours, she was absolutely fine and is now 17mths old and bright as a button and adorable, no effects whatsoever. i weaned off the citalopram when she was 4mthsish? ie 20mg -10mg then every other day etc until i stopped taking it and i am fine.

anyway lots of people take citalopram in pregnancy, what dose are you on?

Hi I just started taking 10mg. The dr knows I want to try for another baby so I think this is why I am on the lower dose. I'm on day 3 and feeling worse, not sure it's side effects, them not working yet or because it is getting close to the 1st anniversary of my mum's death. I feel numb at the moment and even questioning my relationship with husband so very confused about things right now. One minute I want another baby together and the next I have thoughts that I don't Love him and get scared I'll leave but I'm wondering if this is due to the anxiety or loss of mum. Thank you so much for replying. D x

its too soon for them to be working yet :) give it a few weeks.

given its almost the anniversary of your mums death there is no wonder you are feeling upset and numb, i think thats only natural :)

your feelings to me sounds like you are very anxious and nervous and so questioning everything, and its going to be more difficult at this time.

be kind ot yourself and give yourself time, it may help not to try and analyse and question everything so much, i would say wait a little bit for your meds to kick in and give yourself time to feel well and then think about making decisions about another baby xxx look after yourself xxx

Hi Damash12 - just wanted to add that I often experience feelings of numbness and indifference towards people I love when I'm very anxious. I think its because I use up so much emotional energy just trying to suppress my anxiety / horrible feelings that I don't have anything left for other things. Try to give yourself a break - don't do anything rash. Take one day at a time until the meds start working (I usually start to feel better two weeks in then am feeling much better by 1 month). Do what you need to do to get through each day until then. You are not alone!! x

i'm on an ssri after a death, and various other disasters. i've said I'll come off it once i get a positive result that sticks for a few weeks. i'm also over 40. not something i'm looking forward to, coming off, but it will be easier when there's a reason. I'm not going to worry about it until then, if that makes sense. i think the risks with ssris are there but they're very small indeed. xx