Anxiety meds while breastfeeding?

[bobstersmum]

I have suffered from anxiety for a long time, since I was a child possibly, but now I feel like I have wasted enough of my life worrying about silly things and would like to actually take control!
My main anxieties are around the health of my children who are 4, 3, and 8 months. I overly worry about them becoming ill, even just viruses which is difficult because there is always something going around.
I just overthink everything though in general and it's quite exhausting really, I wish I could just take life as it comes and enjoy it.
I am going to speak to my gp and see what medication he recommends, he knows my long history of anxiety which is good but last time I talked about it with him I was still breastfeeding ds who was 14 months at the time, and he told me simply just to stop. I was not happy with being told that! I am thinking if I go again and I'm now breastfeeding my dd she is only just 8 months I don't want to stop yet, surely he should offer me something which is safe to take while still breastfeeding? Does such a drug exist?
Any help or advice gratefully received.

Yes - Sertraline is an option. According to my GP, it is the only thing they are able to prescribe for depression if you're breastfeeding but it is also used to treat anxiety so might be an option for you.

My personal experience is that most GPs have a default position of recommending you stop breastfeeding or telling you it's "ok" to stop if your baby is over a particular age. That's a sweeping statement based on a sample size of three .

I was prescribed Sertraline for depression and anxiety when DS was 19 months and still breastfed. It doesn't appear to have had any impact on breastfeeding for us and he's now 2. Longer-term, who knows, but the GP was very clear that the benefits outweighed the risks and that this is a drug prescribed to pregnant women so the amount which passes into milk is negligible.

Thanks very much for your reply I shall look into that now.
Can I ask did it take some getting used to when you started taking it? And has it helped you?

I've been taking sertraline for depression and promethazine for anxiety since DD was eight days old. She's 12 weeks now and still exclusively breastfed. I've been told by my psychiatrist that a little of it will cross over into breastmilk, but it doesn't do any harm.

And to answer the question you asked the other poster, I did feel worst for the first few days (I was warned that might happen) but once that passed it has definitely helped.

(Typo above - I meant worse not worst)

Read Law of Attraction. Boyfriend done it and generally just changed his outlook on life and his mental state has changed dramatically.

I've had a mixed experience with it. Ironically, I was prescribed it for depression but have actually found it more helpful for anxiety. I haven't found it to have any significant impact on the depression but I can't take anything else at the moment until I stop feeding. I've just started therapy so am hoping that might help too. It has definitely helped with my anxiety though.

You'd probably be prescribed a low dose like 50mg at first to see if you tolerate it, and then this can be upped if necessary. Don't be surprised if you need more than 50mg to feel an effect though.

I was very worried about side effects. In the first week or so, I did feel sick, had a stiff jaw (difficult to describe!) and a few other low-level symptoms - headaches, tiredness, etc. But they all went quite quickly.

On the plus side, it hasn't affected my sleep at all. On the downside, it has given me carb cravings like nothing else and I've ended up gaining quite a bit of weight (over a stone).

There are lots of people here who take Sertraline on here and everyone has a different experience - lots of people don't gain weight so don't let my experience put you off.

I take sertraline too. I'm still breastfeeding my 9 month old.
I felt quite nauseaus for the first 10 days or so- but after that nothing.
It's been quite effective for me, hopefully it will be too.

Another one on sertraline for anxiety here, I'm increasing gradually after starting on 25mg & the main side effect is jaw clenching which seems to be getting better.

I've also been referred for CBT which could be helpful for you?

Thanks everyone, good to hear a few positives, and sertraline seems to be widely used, I will see what I'm offered and then suggest that if anything different. Cbt would definitely help me but apparently in our area the wait is exceptionally long.
I don't think I'm depressed although I do have down days but I think this is due to the constant worrying dragging me down.
I just long to feel a bit more carefree which I know is hard with three little ones anyway but surely I can feel better than I do most days.

If your GP isn't sure which meds to prescribe then they can always seek advice from your local perinatal service. Some medications aren't safe, some are ok if you give it a few hours before BFing