Ttc on sertraline

[Thatgirl123]

Me and my partner have decided to try for a baby. I had my coil removed 2 weeks ago but I’m on sertraline. I’m unsure when I’m pregnant to come off it completely or stay on it just looking for some advice

From what I understand, sertraline is safe to take during pregnancy, however, you'd need to discuss this with your GP. You shouldn't just stop taking any medication without speaking to your doctor, especially not antidepressants/anxiety meds.
If I were you I'd make a docs appointment now. Tell them you are TTC and concerned about your current medication and they'll advise you on what's best. Best of luck x

I was reducing my dose of sertraline before TTC but my GP confirmed it is the antidepressant recommended for pregnancy if one is needed. It's still better/safer to be off it but as the PP said don't just stop without guidance

I spoke to my gp today explaining I’m ttc and he said my does needs to be lowered So it’s been lowered now whilst ttc but once pregnant he said I can stay on it but there are risks to the baby in the first and last 13 weeks however it would be better to come off it but it all depends on what’s best for me I’m just town I’m unsure x

I was on citalopram and came off of them as my psychiatrist and GP told me there are some risks of heart defects with the baby. I'm also on an anti psychotic med too though which is safe, so I didn't notice the loss of my antidepressant so much x

I think I’m going to come off it as I will just forget blame myself if anything happened and I stayed on the tablets xx

I've been on 200mg of sertraline throughout my pregnancy (nearly 30 weeks) and it's absolutely fine, perfectly safe. I have discussed it with many professionals (including a couple of perinatal psychiatrists, various midwives, obstetricians etc) and they have all said that it is better for me - and baby - for me to stay on them.

I got pregnant by accident when i was on sertraline 50/100mg (cant remember which) and i slowly weaned myself off but i wasnt completely off until the second trimester.

The doctor said to me that there is no evidence either way if it will or wont harm the baby. But that i had to look after myself first to be able to look after baby.

Hes nearly 2 now and no issues at all and if i needed to id do it again.

This is really helpful! I’m currently on 150mg but I’ve come down to 100mg the doctor did say if I was to stay on them then I’d have to go on the low dose which is 50mg. But my partner is worried about me and the baby if I stay on them which I understand why he’s worrying about us both cx

I was on anti depressants when TTC, after reading that its safer to come off them I went to see the doctor who agreed that it would be a better option to come off them, However it would be safer to stay on them if it were to affect my mental state. A week after reducing the dosage I got my BFP in which agreed with the doctor I came off them altogether. I unfortunately MMC but have chosen to stay off them.

To be honest, because I was concentrating so much on becoming pregnant etc my mind was preoccupied and i found that I can cope without the anti depressants.

Good luck on whatever option you choose

Thank you all this is really helpful xxx

I was only on a low dose when I found out I was pregnant, spoke to gp he said I could come off if I wanted too but that it's the safest to take whilst pregnant and breastfeeding.
I chose to stay on them and little one is grand, she'll be one in a couple of weeks.
Good luck with ttc 😊

@thatgirl123

Don't feel pressured into coming off them.

Pregnancy can be an emotional rollercoaster and depression is not uncommon for women even if they haven't suffered with it before.
Your dose suggests you have had it increased previously in order to continue getting the benefits from it so you could potentially find reducing and/or stopping very difficult and that wouldn't be in your best interest so therefore not in the baby's best interest. There's a chance you could find it stressful and potentially not look after yourself as well if you're not coping.

There is also the option of reducing/stopping nearer the end of your pregnancy, which should remove the potential for the baby to have any side effects once born

I reduced my Sertraline before my last pregnancy, I did not cope well at all on the lower dose and then later when I was a complete mess and tried to increase it again it no longer had the same effect and it took more than 6 months for me to feel better taking something else.

Of course you know your own situation better than anyone else, do what is right for you.

Good luck with it all xx

I fell pregnant while taking 200mg sertraline I weaned off purely because of how bad my sickness was I couldn’t take them but I was advised if I needed to be on them it’s the safest one to take while pregnant x

Thank you this really helps I was originally on 150mg because of how bad my anxiety and depression has been, my dose has now been lowered to 100mg but I just don’t know what to do like I’ve said previously my partner thinks it’ll be best for me to come off it but I’m just worried I’ll become ill if I come off them xx

I'm sure your partner is coming at this from a place of love and concern for the baby, but remember that this is your decision. Your mental health is really important. There aren't always 'right' answers with parenting - you have to balance everybody's needs, and your baby will certainly need your mental health to be as good as it can.

Fwiw I came off my 50mg dose of Sertraline to TTC, it did NOT go well so the doctors and I agreed it was best for everyone (including the hoped-for baby) if I went back on. I maintained this dose throughout my pregnancy and while breastfeeding. DS is absolutely fine. The risks of heart defects etc are tiny, and you need to balance them against the risk to your family if your mental health deteriorates significantly.

If you feel like you'll be ok without the drugs then definitely do consider reducing/coming off, but if you'd prefer to stay on them that is absolutely fine, it's your decision and you have every right to do so.

Thank you! I’m going to see how I get on with the 100mg and if I’m doing well I’ll see what happens when or if I get pregnant x

I was on Sertraline before ttc, went to the gp and it took about 3 months for me to come off it completely. The GP said I could stay on a lowered dose, but thought I might aswell try and see if I was ok without it.

Think that’s what I’m going to do how did you get on.x

It was ok if I'm honest. They do it really gradually, it took a couple of weeks for me to settle on it. There were no horrible days or signs of depression sneaking back. I was a little teary a few days. I think I was more worried about going back to me before sertraline than anything and that has 100% not been the case.

I think that’s what I’m so scared about I’ve been on sertraline for years so I don’t know how I will be with no meds in my system xx