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Mental health

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Original poster

Regret staying on citalopram while I was pregnant

19 replies

Deolow · 26/02/2022 23:56

Hi everyone.. I've been on citalopram 40mg for years now, I have got BPD and GAD.. so when I got pregnant almost 2 years ago I went to my psychiatrist to make sure that it was safe for my baby to continue using this medication.. At this point my mental health also dropped to an all time low, I didn't even get out of bed, I was in my first trimester.. My psychiatrist was very concerned and assured me it would be safe for my baby and even wanted to up the dose if I wasn't feeling better in next month.. But luckily my mental health improved during the second trimester.. I had such peace of mind that staying on the medication would not affect my baby and the rest of my pregnancy went very well..

My daughter was born via c-section which was a very fortunate decision as her umbilical cord was wrapped around her head 3 times and it would have been a very difficult natural birth.. When she was around 3 months my mother in law noticed she had very little eye contact and didn't really smile.. I had no idea what was normal in babies and still don't, she is now 20 months and a lot has improved.. I still have my concerns that she might be on the autism spectrum and can't shake the feeling that I might have caused this.. Not sure what I want from this post, I guess I just want to get this burdened feeling of guilt off my chest.. Thank you for reading..

OP posts:

Jellybean100 · 27/02/2022 00:05

You have concerns but does anyone else have any concerns ?
There is no link I know of of asd and citalopram, this is probably your anxiety. Citalopram has a v v small link to heart defects if taken in first trimester but the risk is so low that if mothers mental health is particularly bad then the benefits of taking the medication are seen to outweigh the risk.
You have nothing to be guilty about.

Original poster

Deolow · 27/02/2022 19:43

Jellybean100, thank you for reading my post and taking time to reply.. Unfortunately I am not the only one with concerns.. But she is now 20 months old and I am trying to do everything I can to get her the help she needs.. She is already in occupational therapy and starting speech in the next month.. I have struggled with such bad anxiety over this situation since she was about 3 months old.. At last she has reached an age where I can really start doing something about it..

OP posts:

ClumpingBambooIsALie · 27/02/2022 19:47

It's more likely that you have autistic traits which have led to your mental health problems and diagnoses, and your daughter has inherited your autistic traits. Nothing to do with the medication, nothing you could've or should've done different.

LaMadrilena · 27/02/2022 19:48

I was taking citalopram when I got pregnant. I was able to come off it as it was "only" for anxiety, so not comparable to your situation. But I researched carefully what the consequences would be if I kept taking it, and the only thing I could find any reference to was a possibility of withdrawal symptoms in the newborn, so not pleasant but not harmful long-term. I never saw anything about autism or anything else, and your GP or other doctors would surely have talked you through any other risks. Even if your daughter does turn out to have autism, it won't be anything you've done. I hope you get the diagnosis you need and that everything goes well for you.

Original poster

Deolow · 28/02/2022 11:36

*@ClumpingBambooIsALie.. Now that you mention, spending all those hours of researching autism for my daughter, I did relate to quite a lot of it.. It would definitely give my soul some rest if this would rather be the case. Thank you for reading and replying to my message..

OP posts:

Original poster

Deolow · 28/02/2022 11:45

*LaMadrilena, I have been on citalopram for years now and it really does help with my anxiety, it helps me to not overthink everything I do due to my GAD, it just takes the edge off.. Thank you for you well wishes and taking the time to read and reply to my message 😊

OP posts:

MyDcAreMarvel · 28/02/2022 11:48

By BPD do you mean borderline? If so that often misdiagnosed instead of autism. If you are autistic there is a high chance your dd is - it’s not the medication.

Original poster

Deolow · 28/02/2022 12:28

*LaMadrilena, citalopram really helps with my GAD, it helps me to not overthink everything I do.. in social situations and in everyday life.. My gynecologist did suggest I stop all my medications as I was on sertraline and epilim aswell, but my psychiatrist did assure me staying on the citalopram will be safe for my baby.. But then after she was born and there were some red flags for autism I started blaming myself.. Thank you for your well wishes 🙏

OP posts:

BlueCookieMonster · 28/02/2022 12:34

Oh mate, you’ve not caused any autistic traits. Autism is massively undiagnosed in females, my children are both on the spectrum. Quelle surprise, I was diagnosed last year.

Original poster

Deolow · 28/02/2022 12:36

*MyDcAreMarvel, Yes Borderline Personality Disorder.. I have been diagnosed a few years ago, didn't always think it totally fit me honestly..

OP posts:

sophiebmumof3 · 28/02/2022 12:38

you have not caused autism, this is factually incorrect.

BlueCookieMonster · 28/02/2022 12:41

@Deolow

*MyDcAreMarvel, Yes Borderline Personality Disorder.. I have been diagnosed a few years ago, didn't always think it totally fit me honestly..

There’s loads about BPD being misdiagnosed in autistic women.

LIZS · 28/02/2022 12:41

If you were in labour while the cord was wrapped around her neck it is possible she suffered some oxygen supply issues during birth. When you have an assessment for a child, birth and early development are asked about. Hopefully she will improve with such early intervention but it is unlikely to be related to medication.

ClumpingBambooIsALie · 28/02/2022 14:16

It's good that you stopped the Epilim, that's known to sometimes cause problems, but the citalopram should be fine. Psychiatrists complain about their workload so much, there's no way they'd give you meds that increased the chance of another future patient

Your little girl is still very small; there's every chance her development will level out, especially as you've been so proactive in giving her the best chance by getting her OT and speech therapy.

Original poster

Deolow · 02/03/2022 11:18

*BlueCookieMonster , I would honestly be so relieved if this could be the case in my situation and I can stop blaming myself and go on with my life..

OP posts:

StarCat2020 · 04/03/2022 14:48

Stop beating yourself up!!

Original poster

Deolow · 07/03/2022 21:08

ClumpingBambooIsALie, I also think that my daughter's development might still even out more.. she has already improved so much in the last year and is a different child from when she was a year back..she acknowledges me and others around her so much more than before.. There is just a few things that still concern me, but we will be working on them.

OP posts:

ClumpingBambooIsALie · 07/03/2022 22:10

That's so good to hear! I wish you all the best :)

Pimpernella · 07/03/2022 22:29

I came off citalopram while pregnant though I was told it was fine. I suffered terribly with depression while pregnant.
My daughter has recently been diagnosed with ASD and I've been reading about possible links to stress during pregnancy!
Can't win!
She was born with the cord around her neck too. My husband scores highly on ASD online tests. Who knows why?
Just look after yourselves where you can and try to worry only about the things you can do.

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