12 weeks' pregnant; I think I need to go back on Citalopram

[mildertduck]

In January of this year I was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder and put on 20mg Citalopram alongside 6 sessions of counselling paid for my my employer. I got pregnant in August and my doctor weaned me off the tablets in September saying that it wasn't good for the baby and there was a (small) risk of congenital heart defects.

It is clear to me that I shouldn't have done that. I feel exactly as bad as I did before the tablets - work terrifies me; I can't concentrate; when I make mistakes I lose all sense of proportion and think that everyone involved hates me; I feel as if something is about to go terribly wrong all the time. I have my dating scan tomorrow and I am convinced something is really badly wrong with the baby. I cry almost constantly, which is not good when one works in an open-plan office. My team leader is back from holiday tomorrow and I'm dreading it.

I can't be like this anymore; I'm not coping. I rang the GP surgery this morning and they are reluctant to put me back on the tablets, though they have booked me an appointment for Thursday morning.

I don't know really why I am writing this. I just want someone to know and to reassure me.

I am sorry you are feeling so anxious and sad. I hope that you have family, friends and colleagues around you who are able to offer support.
Can you wait until Thursday to see your GP, or do you need an emergency appointment sooner? It sounds like you could be signed off work for a while until you feel a bit better.
I hope you will be reassured by your scan tomorrow. I'm sure you probably know that it is the later scan where the heart and other organs are checked.
There are anti depressants that can be taken in pregnancy, so it's definately worth telling your GP how bad you feel.

well i took citalopram in preg, my gp wasnt happy about it, but my mh team did their research and said it was fine, they did keep me and dd in for 24hrs after her birth to moniter her (v.v.v small risk of her suffering withdrawl) but she was fine.

be back later dd crying!

I suffered pnd after the birth of my first son 6 years ago. I was off the anti d and got preg this year with no 2. My anxiety levels went thru the roof and I actually wondered if I could continue with the preg, anxiety talking not the real me. I was having the runs and not eating, my anxiety was causing me to pass out in the street. My gp did not want to put me on any meds but the pharmacist said rubbish you can take them.

I lost the baby at 8 weeks and my anxiety was sky high. Gp said anxiety was not the cause as years ago women suffered all sorts of things and delivered healthy babies. To me that is a get out and I don't believe I lost the baby due to anxiety but believe it did not help.

I just want to say do not let them make you go thru preg like this. My friend told me her sister had 3 kids on anti d and all 3 fine. I also want to say that an anxious or depressed mum is not good for the fetus. You have a very slight chance of baby having withdrawal symptoms when you deliver but its very slight, better that having a baby to a mum who has been very anxious or depressed and struggling after the birth. take care of yourself and dont suffer. You could take a small dose and feel fab and enjoy your preg and be calm and relaxed for the birth.

Some women suffer from terrible illnesses and have to take medication no matter what and have babies. Another friend was on morphine during her preg and also had x-rays.

You need to be fit and relaxed for the baby coming not stressed and worn out.

Hope you feel better soon

I was taking citalopram before I got pregnant with DD. Stopped as soon as I found out (was unplanned pg and I was really in no state to be stopping ADs but couldn't think straight).

Got to about 12 weeks and was suicidal - I remember planning it carefully - was going to make sure that DH picked DS up from nursery and was going to do it then :( Luckily DH realised I was in a bad way, I went to GP and was fast tracked to a psychatrist the next day. Was prescribed Sertraline and had 6 weeks off work. Both helped a lot. DD was bf which the doctor said they recommend with AD takers as helps to minimise withdrawal. Kept on taking it until she was over one.

Ahe is now 6 and completely fine. Am very glad I took rhe ADs as it was definitely the right thing to do.

Please see your GP again - maybe write a list down or take someone else in with you to help a bit?

Really hope you feel a bit better soon.

Hi, all the major development has taken place now so the risk from antidepressants should be low. I took 40mg of fluoextine from 10 weeks with no problems.

Thank you so much for your lovely messages. I'm back on the citalopram and have a referral to the CBT person at my GP surgery. Once I said that I knew the risks but I felt that my mental health was more of a worry, she was fine.

I'm feeling a little more like myself today; still worrying about random work-related things but I have a meeting with HR this afternoon to talk through my worries, so we'll see how that goes.