Anti-Depressants and TTC

[Praxis]

Hi everyone,

Does anyone have any experience of taking escitalopram while trying to conceive? We have been trying for 18mths now and nothing. I've had quite a bumpy 2 years and feel that my mental health is reaching critical mass at the moment so I've been prescribed escitalopram, which I've taken before and suited me well.

I don't think stopping taking it if I conceive will be an issue, but do you think it would be more beneficial for TTC to address my anxiety or to not take Anti-Depressants?

I have tried everything you can think of before anti-depressants came back on the menu but I think part of the reason I'm not falling pregnant is because my brain is constantly telling body we're in mortal danger!

Anyway, thank you for reading and I hope to hear some happy endings!

I have been on sertraline for 4 years, through pregnancy and breastfeeding and now in my current pregnancy too. I was such a mess before I started taking it and have no doubt that my anxiety would have made ttc so stressful that we would never have conceived. I kept taking it after I had done so because it was so beneficial for my mental health. My doctor made a sage point that it is far more damaging to a baby to have uncontrolled cortisol and adrenaline raging through its blood stream on a regular basis that a steady drip of low dose ssris. It sounds like you're struggling and if you think it would level you out I would definitely go for it - and not be too hasty to come off it either.

I believe sertraline is the first line SSRI when TTC so perhaps ask about that (although I'm sure they wouldn't prescribe the other one if it wasn't suitable and if it suited you well then that's important too).

Very best of luck with it xx

Ps, anxiety is a chemical thing and for me felt like an unstoppable wave, it was so powerful and impossible to fight against. Like you I tried everything under the sun and nothing helped. There's no shame in getting some support from medication xx

@noodella18 thank you so much for taking the time to write that and I'm glad that you found something that works for you!

I think you're right, and I'm going to start taking them tonight.

Sertraline didn't agree with me at all sadly but that's definitely the first choice for pregnancy. Apparently escitalopram is fine for TTC but I should stop taking if I become pregnant and I'm fine with that.

I'm TTC and am taking Sertraline rather than Escitalopram. I feel the benefit outweighs the risk