Is it safe to use citalopram during pregnancy?

[teameric]

Have just found out I'm about 2/3 weeks pg and I have been taking 40g of citalopram for the past 18 months. I am going to make a doctors appointment first thing in the morning, but I'm a bit worried about taking it now although I know I can't just stop. TIA

Hi,
no experience of citalapram but know it is regarded as a first line treatment and that dr's always consider the health of mother as well as baby ... hope you get teh answer you need tomorrow.

For what it is worth I will have to stay on my AD (venlaflaxine) if I get pregnant (hope so!) and my cpn said he had 2 ladies stay on it with healthy babies recently.

Hi there. Try not to panic. It's better that you carry on for a while rather than stop suddenly - going cold turkey is likely to cause more problems for you and your baby than carrying on taking it.

You could look at weaning off gradually, if you are worried about taking it.

However, I know people have taken it all through pregnancy and have had babies that are fine.

It's best to get advice though - 40mg is towards the higher range in terms of doseage.

There are peri-natal specialists who are able to advise about drugs in pregnancy,.

Also bear in mind that there is a 1-5% chance of an abnormality occurring naturally anyway, so drugs are not necessarily to blame if an abnormality occurs.

thanks for your replys I phoned the doc today and he said to reduce my dose to every other day or just stop and take it if my mood starts to wane, I feel fine mentally at the mo so hopefully it will be ok, the baby is more important.