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Mental health

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Original poster

can take antidepressants whilst pregnant?

10 replies

kittywits · 21/08/2006 11:11

I'm 9 weeks preg with no 6. and am becoming increasingly down.
I know that it is depression as opposed to just feeling a bit blue as I see everying in shades of grey and can't find anything positive to look forward to and am generally feeling that everyone is better than me in everyway.
I've tried all sorts of self help stuff, but it's not working. I need anti depressants , I have had them postnatally before, but never needed them during pregnancy.
Has anyone any experience of this?Is there anything i can take? If not are there any natural remedies safe for pregnancy? Thanks

OP posts:

IdrisTheDragon · 21/08/2006 11:14

I took anti depressants from being 12 weeks pregnant. I take Lustral, also known as sertraline.

I had to see a psychaitrist but was seen within 3 days of going to the GP and telling him that I was really not all right.

DD is now 11 months old and is fine . And so am I (with the help of the ADs).

madmarchhare · 21/08/2006 14:44

I took Citalopram when pg, I was already taking it and advised that it was OK to stay on it. The only problem was that I was told I could not breast feed, which I later found out to not necessarily be the case. So all in all I would say check the bfing issue out before hand if its important to you.

IdrisTheDragon · 21/08/2006 14:46

I also breastfed DD (stopped a few weeks ago). In fact I was advised that it was best to breastfeed, given that I was taking the ADs (and the doctor made sure that Lustral was OK for breastfeeding).

Original poster

kittywits · 21/08/2006 15:18

Thanks for the advice ladies. I've booked an appoitment with the GP tomorrow.
When I took them for PND I could only tolerate really small doses and was taking 2ml of liquid prozac. I was rather hoping I could do something similar. no doubt prozac will be a big no, no.

OP posts:

MeAndMyBoy · 21/08/2006 15:21

I haven't read all the posts so sorry if someone else has already mentioned this. Have you thought about omega 3 as well? I've started with AND and have been having 500mg omega 3 and it's made a big difference for me. Might be worth using along side any A/D's you have?

Original poster

kittywits · 21/08/2006 15:31

Thanks mae and my boy. Did it really perk you up? How did you take the omega three. I would much rather try and use alternatives during the actual pregnancy if possible.

OP posts:

divastrop · 21/08/2006 20:35

hiya,
i also got very depressed during my last pg,and was put on prozac at 20 weeks.it made a big difference and i felt alot better.ive since read that prozac has been linked to probs in the newborn if taken in late pg,but dd2 had no problems at birth.
im 11 wks pg with number 5 now and having the same probs(soz if u read my post on pregnancy forum and im repeating myself),i had to stop taking proazac when i found out i was pg as my gp said they dont really know the risks b4 12 weeks.i didnt want to try anything new in case i had a bad reaction,
i saw my gp today and she said i should consider going on it again if everythings ok with my 12 week scan,i mentioned what id read about late pg,she said the risks are minimal and any gp would consider what would be worse for the baby as ante-natal depression carries its own risks.
i took omega 3 in my last pg,but i dont know if it helped with the depression,i was only taking it cos i heard its good for the baby's brain.
i will wait to hear how u get on,take care

JennT · 21/08/2006 21:21

I think the guidelines are fluoxetine (Prozac) during pregnancy and switching to Sertraline (Lustral) during breastfeeding

Original poster

kittywits · 21/08/2006 21:37

Thanks so much everyone! if I could go back to taking my little sip of prozac I'll be happy! I'm 9+2 now, so not long to wait.
I'm also not sure how much my current circumstances are affecting my mood. I've got that early preg exhaustion and 5 bickering kids ranging from 8 to 7 months at home for the hols!! perhaps anyone would feel somewhat under the cosh in that situation !
I keep feeling that i've failed somehow in feeling like this. It's like, I should be embracing motherhood and all that. But it's hard sometimes isn't it?

OP posts:

MeAndMyBoy · 22/08/2006 17:38

sorry for not getting back quickly. Yes it made a huge difference - I went from being white hot angry constantly and feeling really heavy and over loaded to feeling like myself again. Took a couple of weeks and it wasn't until I missed it for a couple of days I realised that I was feeling more like myself.

I am taking 500mg capsules . If you do use it hope it helps you as much as it's helped me.

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