Quetiapine

[Elledouble]

Just wondering what people's experiences of quetiapine have been. The psychiatrist has prescribed it for me on top of the Sertraline I'm taking already for my PND but I'm not sure if I'm comfortable with taking it or not. I'm still breastfeeding my son (and really don't want to stop) and everything I've read online has said you shouldn't take it and BF. I did ask the doctor and she said it would be alright, but I don't know what to do now.

So has anyone found it useful for PND/related anxiety? And has anyone breastfed while taking it and can reassure me? I'm going to try to ring the doctor to ask, but I'd just like to know about anyone's experiences. Thanks in advance.

I wouldn't take it when breastfeeding as it can be very sedating and will pass through in your milk. I've been on it for years for bipolar disorder and I'm sure on the label it says not to breastfeed, so understand your concern.

It's good for anxiety, but it's very sedating and increases appetitite.

It's an. Antipsychotic - have you psychotic symptoms? If yes then the benefits would outweigh the risks, if not you're right to question it. I didn't take quetiapine when I was breastfeeding.

Quetiapine is an anti-psychotic but it's often prescribed for depression/anxiety too. I don't know anything about meds and breast feeding but you have conflicting advice don't you - what it says online and what the GP says.........hmm - maybe ask your HV or mental health nurse, or phone 111.

If it helps, this is what is written in the leaflet that comes with the tablets.

I took it when breastfeeding with sertraline. Depends on the age of baby alongside other things. Check breastfeeding network. org, drugs in breast milk information and helpline. I found it helpful.

Fwiw, my consultant okay ed it too. It enhances the antidepressant effect of the sertraline. You don't need to be psychotic to be prescribed it at all.

Hiya, I took it for psychotic PND when I was breastfeeding. I think my baby had started to wean onto solids a little (around 6 months? Can't remember exactly, sorry). He's now a strapping 4 year old and has normal development. I had a perinatal psychiatrist who really knew her stuff. I hope you find something that helps you.

Thank you all for your help - I need to make an appointment with my GP anyway and I'll call my consultant to talk it through (she is a specialist in perinatal MH so I feel bad questioning her).

I don't have psychosis - I imagine terrible things happening to my son but it's really more an anxiety thing. He is 23 weeks old and beginning to wean - a bit early because he's had reflux - and has a couple of formula feeds a day so maybe that's why it's perhaps allowed.

I know there haven't really been much in the way of studies on these things due to the ethics of it, so must be a grey area. Anyway, thanks again, glad I'm not being totally ridiculous.