PND and pregnant again. What AD?

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I am suffering from PND. It's a mild case so have been managing with talking to HV etc and haven't been taking any ADs. I have just found out I am pregnant. This has completely pushed me over the edge and GP wants me to start ADs. He wants me to use fluoxetine. I thought serteraline was the advised drug. Can anyone advise?

When I was pregnant I saw a big London obstetrician (for hideous HG which caused my anxiety and depression to return) and for what it's worth he said the current thinking is that all SSRIs are fine in pregnancy. Sertraline used to be the preferred choice as it was the most tested, but all others are now viewed the same. If you want to take fluoxetine then feel totally free to take it. I have taken fluoxetine and escitalopram in pregnancy.

Note that it is not quite the same view for breastfeeding.

I was given sertraline. Terrible night sweats but it worked. I was on it 6 months and breastfeeding. I'm.pregnant again too which is why your post caught my eye. Hope you feel better soon. Worth a try is what I thought, I felt like I was going to miss out on enjoying motherhood without them.

I took sertraline & Olanzapine whilst pg & DD was ok.

If you're planning to breastfeed then Sertraline is usually advised as you can keep taking it while breastfeeding but if not then I think there's a bit more choice.

I was just about to post a similar question. I have PND (anxiety really) and I've been taking Sertraline for 9months, on 100mg at the moment.

I think they have helped calm down the constant nervous/sick feeling. But I still have attacks of anxiety.

I have an appointment with my GP soon(ish) who I think will recommend some kind of PRN drug like beta blockers or diazepam to cope with the flare-ups.

However...

I know this doesnt really follow any logic but I actually want to come off ALL meds incase I do accidentally fall pregnant again. I certainly don't want any more children at the moment, but the thought of being pregnant whilst taking any medication is giving me so much anxiety that I wonder if I'd be better off medication free (Does that make sense?)

So it's reassuring to hear it's considered safe by some Dr's (contradicts what NHS online says). Is there any written evidence for this?

Hello Bellyrub...I was fortunate enough to get really fantastic private hospital care when I was pregnant with my DS as I had hideous HG. I saw a troop of specialist obstetric physicians (including David Williams www.uclh.nhs.uk/OurServices/Consultants/Pages/DrDavidWilliams.aspx) and he was absolutely insistent that I did not need to change my SSRI to sertraline for the duration of my pregnancy. I'm afraid I do not have any research articles stating this, but he was clear that all SSRIs are now seen as equal in terms of pregnancy (at the very forefront of obstetric care). Personally I made the call to believe him, and my psychiatrist backed him up entirely. But it is a totally individual choice and one I agonised over.

All doctors were much more worried about me having an emotional set back while pregnant - so I would be fearful for you to plan to stop your medication in the context of potential pregnancy.

However Dr Williams said he would not want me to breastfeed on any one other than sertraline. That is very consistent advice I received. So I made the decision not to breastfeed with that pregnancy.

Hope that helps!

Bellyrub I was advised to come off my ADs (Citalopram) for the first trimester of pregnancy as it is associated with a small increased risk of heart defects. I started Sertraline 50mg at 16 weeks then increased the dose to 100mg after the baby was born.

Thank you for both of those replies. There is only a small chance of me falling pregnant so, with this reasurrance, I will think more seriously about staying on the medication.