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Mental health

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Original poster

Should I take them!!??

17 replies

melbournemum · 12/06/2006 04:54

I've been diagnosed with pnd (no surprise) but can't start taking the ads as I'm still breastfeeding ds2 who has just turned one. I'm in the process of weaning him off but am holding on to some hope that I can get better myself. I spend so much time on the internet looking in horror at all the possible side effects of the drugs (lexapro) but then I also know I can't continue living with the lack of joy I've had since he was born and they way that its impacting on my little family. DS1 (almost 3) and dh really bare the brunt of it and it breaks my heart. I'm not anti-medication, just scared.
Any advice please.

OP posts:

JackieNo · 12/06/2006 07:17

Hi melbournemum, so sorry to hear this - I don't have any direct experience of pnd, but my DH has been on medication for depression for about 3 years now, and it's really helped him and us. Hopefully someone with some more direct experience will be along soon with some words of wisdom. In the meantime - good luck with whatever you decide to do.

JackieNo · 12/06/2006 09:52

Bumping for you

hamster · 12/06/2006 09:58

Hi,
I was diagnosed with pnd when ds1 was 6 months old. Unfortunatley I was still on them when I fell pg with my second. Although it was fine during my pregnancy, it was recommended to me that I didn't bf. This upset me deeply.
But looking back, I can see that it is better for baby to have a happy, capable mum, than one that is depressed.

My opinion is that you go onto bottles, and make the most of your medication.
It isn't as bad as some people make it out to be, and you will reap the rewards in the long run. This is just my opinion though.
Do whatever is your gut feeling, but whatever you do, don't go on feeling the way you do :)

MeAndMyBoy · 12/06/2006 10:14

Hi Melbournemum

I had undiagnosed PND for 18mths with first DS and think I also have AND now being pg with number 2. I didn't want to go down the medication route cause I was scared too. Maybe go back to the GP and see if you can change to something with less side effects? bear in mind that you might not get any side effects - they don't always effect everyone.

I have started using Omega 3 and really feel that it's helping level out the feeling irrationally angry all the time. Might be a useful intermidate step?

Are you happy with the GP prescribing AD's for you? they think that they can help you.

Original poster

melbournemum · 12/06/2006 10:42

thanks everyone
my dh suggested Omega 3 as well and it as definitely made a difference, just not enough of a difference. the gp tested for anaemia and found I was very very low in iron which also explained some of the feeling low but again, the iron supplements have only taken the edge off and I'm still just pretty flat most of the time with rare moments of joy and frequent moments of despair. I hate living like this. I guess I'm just afraid that ads make you something artificial if that makes any sense? I'm worried I'll be either freakishly high on them or just even more flat with no moments of real joy as the gp did say they can have a 'levelling' effect. he seems good and is convinced ads are right for me. he was thorough adn gave me a lot of time and options, he didn't just push them. I've started ds2 on bottles during the day now (much to his distaste!) and plan to completely wean him over the next week. It just makes me really sad to have to do that under these circumstances. worth it though over all I guess

OP posts:

PiccadillyCircus · 12/06/2006 10:45

I am taking ADs and also breastfeed DD who is 8 months. I have been taking them since I was 13 weeks pregnant. It is possible to take ADs and breastfeed. I'm not sure about the AD you have mentioned, but I didn't want you to think that you have to stop breastfeeding.

I am taking Sertraline.

MeAndMyBoy · 12/06/2006 12:08

I know what you mean about making you something artifical. I was worried that they would stop me being myself - IYSWIM.

If you have vitamin C when you take your iron tabs it will help you absorb more of the iron (I used ribena :)), also if you limit your caffine intake cause it can reduce iron absorption.

Ulysees · 12/06/2006 12:22

Don't believe it, was just going to suggest omega 3 oils! I get depression and read on a depression help site about omega 3, plus vitamins. I've been on them for a few weeks and am amazed at the difference. I also take st johns but I don't think it's recommended when bf?

Have you thought of visiting a nutritionist? I'm starting to eat more advocados, nuts etc.. as the fats and oils in such foods are amazing for your health. Eating wholegrain foods helps too.

Ulysees · 12/06/2006 12:24

\link{http://www.depression.org.uk/interact/chat.php\depression help site}

MeAndMyBoy · 12/06/2006 12:26

I've just started on them Ulysees and have been suprised at how quickly they have made a difference. I've had a couple of days with and then a day without by accident and spent the entire day angry at the world. What other vitamins are you taking?

Ulysees · 12/06/2006 12:38

Hi, I take a good quality multi vit. I think it's A and D that are most important? Plus of course B complex as these support the nervous system.

Glad they're helping you Meandmyboy

Verso · 12/06/2006 20:30

Hi melbournemum. I was prescribed AD's by my GP when my DD was six months old. She recommended Cipramil (Citalopram) as being one of the safest for breastfeeding. Unfortunately, it's difficult to do studies on AD's and breastfeeding, so the lack of clinical evidence makes it hard to say either way if they will be 100% safe. All I can say is that I didn't take them at the time and I kind-of wish I had. My DD is now 14 months old and I've been on the AD's for two months and feel quite a bit better.

They don't make you feel weird or high or different - I was hugely worried (part of my PND was serious anxiety) that my personality would change or something, but I've been fine.

It's difficult to decide either way, but I would agree with the others that it's important for you to be happy - very important. Oh, and the possible side-effects really freaked me out too (I read the leaflet and then was too scared to take them for about a week!) but they have to put all possibilities down just in case. Most of them are very very rare.

(((hugs)))

Things WILL get better. Keep posting. There's a lot of us here who really DO know how you feel.

Original poster

melbournemum · 12/06/2006 22:50

thank you so much everyone
I feel like crying (but in a good way) to have found supportive people who actually do get it. My dh does his very best but in his words, he's just never felt this way so he doesn't know how to help. thank you so so much.
I'm taking Flax seed oil daily for the omega 3 and a multi vitamin plus the iron and vitamin c. I feel better about taking the ads after all your posts and actually feel a little bit excited about the possibility of just waking up and feeling happy! It will still take a couple of weeks to wean ds2 off bf altogether .He's not cooperating and is protesting quite a bit bless him but we'll get there.

OP posts:

MeAndMyBoy · 13/06/2006 08:29

I'm so glad that we're helping :). Couldn't you see your GP and get prescribed some different AD's so that you can continue to feed DS?

How are you doing today?

h x

melbournemum · 14/06/2006 01:46

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

JackieNo · 14/06/2006 07:12

From what my DH says, he was worried about not being 'him' on ADs too, but it has just evened out the highs and lows, and allowed him to be on a more even keel, and, crucially, to bounce back from disappointments or setbacks in a more 'normal' way, rather than their becoming a huge stumbling block. Hope things get better for you.

Verso · 14/06/2006 12:53

What you describe - the swooping ups and downs - sounds totally familiar to me. I remember being in pieces one day and then the next feeling like a fraud because I had actually met up with a friend and been laughing with her about things and feeling quite normal. The thing is are you having more down days than up ones?

I agree with the suggestion to maybe see if you could get some different AD's so you can carry on breastfeeding if you want to. Given that you haven't started the ones you've been prescribed, I think it should be straightforward to switch. (I think with some of them you have to wait a while between types once they're in your system as they work in different ways.)

Keep posting - and don't feel bad for having good days, if that makes sense!

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