Bipolar

[aimee81]

I have bipolar I am on tabs but just found out I'm pregnant I have asked three different doctors and two said come off slowly and one said to come off straight away I'm very anxious at the mo as don't know what to do

It really depends on what you are taking. See your GP ASAP and they can confirm and refer you to perinatal specialists if need be.

Congratulations!

Thank you, but done two Asda own tests now both positive done clear blue digi which says not pregnant. Had blood test today which will hopefully clear things up then got early scan next week x

What has your GP or mental health professional said? It all depends on the medication, coming off meds immediately can be very dangerous.

That's just it one doc said to come off trazodone and quetiapine while the other two docs have said to come off slowly my shrink has said to come off them ASAP there is just no help !!!

Are these doctors from your mental health team? Can you phone the mental health team and say you need to speak to someone today as you are being told you should come off meds immediately? As I’m assuming if you come off meds immediately, with nothing in its place you would end up likely to have a crisis. It sounds like either you or someone in your team needs to speak to a psychiatrist urgently. There are psychiatrists who specialise in treating people with mental illness when pregnant.

My mental health team is in Carmarthenshire but I've recently moved. I am on the waiting list to be seen, where I am now. I have phoned them and they have said to come off ASAP. The only thing is no one seems to care anymore once you have been on their systems for a while.
I have phoned the crisis team today which have told me to slowly lower the dose at least there is some help out there xx

You need to be referred to a Psychiatrist who specialises in pre & post natal care.

I saw a specialist a year ago who said not to come off my meds (Venlafaxine, Aripiprazole & Levetiracetam) if I became pregnant as there was no solid evidence that they would harm a baby but if I developed psychosis or depression then that could cause harm.
(I have schizo affective disorder bipolar type & epilepsy).
My usual psychiatrist didn't know what I should do.

You must phone the cmht and be very assertive with them about seeing a specialist who knows what they're talking about!

Congratulations by the way!

Hi op. I came of ADs straight away and ended up having a crisis which didn't end very well. Please get further advice/support and come off slowly. The risks of a crisis often outweigh any possible harm to baby over the space of a few weeks to taper off. Congrats and good luck

Thank you everyone I have spoken to my shrink and she has said that instead of taking two a day to take one and they are going to monitor me xx

Glad you’ve managed to speak to your psychiatrist OP. Congratulations and hope everything goes well x

Oh thanks cross fingers xx