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13wks & struggling without Escitalopram

5 replies

Bexy88 · 11/03/2019 11:42

I've been taken Escitalopram for approx. 9 years now to help with my anxiety and bouts of depression. When I found out I was pregnant (at around 4 weeks) I went to the GP for a medication review. He took me off all of my medication including Escitalopram. He wanted me to just stop cold turkey but I had to fight to wean myself off them over 4 weeks. In that time I had a 2nd gp appointment and discussed safer alternative antidepressants. They suggested Sertraline to me. I started on Sertraline and stuck it out for a week but every time I took the tablet within the first hour I would be throwing up bright yellow foamy vomit. The gp advised me to stop taking the medication and referred me to the psychiatric team. Last week I saw the psychiatrist who also wasn't sure what medication to put me on due to me being pregnant and has now referred me to a perinatal team.
In the mean time I feel like I did last time I was off Escitalopram....struggling to cope with the smallest tasks, my mind works overtime none stop and does not shut off so struggling to sleep, feeling down all the time, not wanting to go out and socialise or chat to people, not showering, just completely mentally exhausted.
I feel like I'm getting passed from pillow to post and no-one knows what to do with me.
I've been sent home from work today as my emotions became too much and I couldn't calm myself down. This is the first time I have had to come home from work due to my mental health. I work in a primary school and I'm usually the one others rely on for mental health support. I even booked to do a mental health first aid course months ago, it's meant to be next week, but I've had to cancel it because I don't feel in the right frame of mind for it now.
I feel like my low mood is consuming me and I don't know what to do to stop myself from falling.

OP posts:
MumUndone · 11/03/2019 11:45

Citalopram and fluoxetine both considered low risk in pregnancy, surprised your GP didn't suggest either of those, have you tried them before?

Bexy88 · 11/03/2019 11:54

The psychiatrist spoke to me about citalopram but then said she wasnt going to prescribe it. She said she would rather me see the perinatal team first.
She never said anything about fluoxetine. I was on it briefly over 12 years ago.

OP posts:
MumUndone · 11/03/2019 12:04

Hmm. I've been on each (low dose) in consecutive pregnancies and consultant was fine with this. Maybe check why one isn't being prescribed?

Bexy88 · 11/03/2019 12:15

I'm currently awaiting a call back from the perinatal team. I've been to the GP this morning but she said she will not prescribe me anything because I'm awaiting the app with the perinatal team?!

OP posts:
Maybe2019 · 27/04/2019 16:16

Hello ladies

I'm considering taking Escitalopram at the moment. Been suffering with severe depression and anxiety for years and came off Setraline while TTC a year ago. I fell pregnant in Feb 2019 which ended up being an ectopic and sadly had to have surgery. I have become very depressed again as I expected... and not sure if I should go back on antidepressants again.

I can't TTC for at least 3 months as I've had drug intervention (Methotrexate) for my ectopic before the surgery, and was told it could impact the foetus in the first 3 months of pregnancy. So I am wondering if it's worth taking AD while I am recovering from everything and then weaning off when I TTC in a 3 months time?

Has any of you been on AD short term? Also did anyone have a safe pregnancy after coming off AD or while taking AD?

Would really appreciate any advice xx

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