Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Mental health

Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you have medical concerns, please seek medical attention.

Flip

Original poster

Been prescribed Prozac but now have to stop BF and its making me feel worse...

18 replies

Piffy · 12/02/2008 11:13

Fresh back from the doctors with prescription for prozac, but need to stop BF and I feel so awful actually more depressed than before. I know that taking the drugs is going to be best in the long run for my family but I still feel terrible. Someone tell me how daft I'm being

OP posts:

ruthmollymummy · 12/02/2008 12:43

hi Piffy, it's quite possible you're not being that daft. you can go back and tell the doctor you don't want to give up BF - I'm on fluoxetine which is a prozac drug and I am still ok BF. BF isn't the end of the world, many people can't do it and for me changing to part BF and part bottles was a huge relief but if it means that much to you there are other medicines you can take so you can do both. x

expatinscotland · 12/02/2008 12:54

I bf'd and took fluoxetine.

The two are not incompatible.

expatinscotland · 12/02/2008 12:55

i took 20mg fluoxetine and bf'd.

others have taken this dosage throughout pregnancy.

Original poster

Piffy · 12/02/2008 20:24

The prescription is for fluoxetine 20mg but the doctor said that the manufacturers say 'recommend not breastfeed'. BUT surfing on google earlier found a thing that said there have not been any clinical trials but nothing negative seemed to be shown by investigations so far.

Hmmmm...thinking I may try and keep the BF going at least at night, so much easier than bottles and at least I still get my snuggly time with baby then, so I can still feel wanted/needed. Ruthmollymummy, how are you managing with part bottles part BF? Have you replaced certain feeds totally with bottles?

I realise that I am probably wanting to keep BF for me rather than any health benefits for baby - she is 12 weeks and has been BF until now so that is pretty good I suppose.

Trying hard to be rational but I don't feel very rational at all. In fact I just want to crawl into bed and hide from making any decisions!

OP posts:

expatinscotland · 12/02/2008 20:34

there are plenty of people who have bf'd on that dosage and been fine! myself included.

and you're not just bfing for you, there benefits go on for longer than 3 months, you know!

i've been where you are! i'm on fluoxetine again after missed m/c, but if it's going to make you feel even worse if you give up bf, it's not entirely necessary.

Bluestocking · 12/02/2008 20:36

I took paroxetine throughout pregnancy and 18 months of breastfeeding. The doctor's advice was that it was fine and that my mental wellbeing was crucial to my baby's health. Can you go and talk to the doctor again and tell him/her how important it is for you to continue breastfeeding? The health benefits for your baby go on long after 12 weeks.

TotalChaos · 12/02/2008 20:36

I agree with the others. Back in 2004, obs/gynae consultant, psychiatrist and psychiatrist's pharmacist were all happy for me to bf on 20mg prozac.

expatinscotland · 12/02/2008 20:37

Prozac has been around a long time, too.

Of course, there won't be any clinical trials because who's going to do them on pregnant and breastfeeding women?

TotalChaos · 12/02/2008 20:39

There has been some research done on it expat - but not a standard double blind clinical trial, more a retrospective study of women who took prozac. I was told research showed that tiny traces passed into the breast milk, but not enough to affect a baby.

hairtwiddler · 12/02/2008 20:40

Me too. Was on 20mg fluoxetine and BF for a further 6months. There were no noticeable effects on DD.

expatinscotland · 12/02/2008 20:40

That's good to know, TC!

Original poster

Piffy · 12/02/2008 20:55

Evidently my doctor was just covering her own back or possibly thought I was being stubborn about the BF being really important to me - I am really relieved that some of you have taken this drug whilst BF. I BF DS for 7 months (until he started biting LOL!) so was really keen to do the same again. Not least because for some reason it makes me feel less of a cr*p mum...

OP posts:

KashaSarrasin · 12/02/2008 20:59

Piffy - I took paroxetine for over a year while bfing (PND). I think it's just a matter of finding a clued-up doctor, or failing that providing them with lots of evidence! (got to go, have to get DS asleep!)

KashaSarrasin · 12/02/2008 21:46

OK - DS now back asleep...

Anyway, here's some info from Kellymom with specific data for transfer rates with different SSRI antidepressants:
www.kellymom.com/health/meds/antidepressants-hale10-02.html
I think the original information is from Thomas Hale's "Medication and Mothers' Milk" book, if your GP needs persuading.

I hope the Prozac gets to work soon and you start feeling better. Being depressed sucks.

Original poster

Piffy · 12/02/2008 22:04

Thanks so much KashaSarrasin - this is perfect and so reassuring, as the baby is 12 weeks it appears she is through the most vulnerable period and I feel pretty confident about starting the drugs now. So glad I waited to get the formula out until I had posted on MN! I knew one of the lovely ladies on here would be able to advise!

At least that's one less thing to worry about, now just concentrate on overcoming this depression one day at a time. You're dead right, depression sucks big time!

OP posts:

ruthmollymummy · 13/02/2008 08:36

Hi Piffy, sorry bout replying late! I'm finding part bottles is working great, I know it's not for everyone but I was getting really really stressed out having to feed her all on my own. I just picked the times of day that i knew i still really loved feeding her (first thing in the morning and last thing at night!) and tried to give her a bottle instead of one of the afternoon feeds.
a warning though! I had to give her to my mum to take a bottle cos she was NOT happy and in my state of mind I couldn't deal with it! that was just the first day though! x

readytopop · 19/02/2008 02:48

Only read the 1st half of this, but don't stop the b/f if you don't want to, I had the doc double check with I forget who, but some group connected with la leche legue, NCT or similar, and was told that prozac is one of the safer ones.

tbh, the state I was in at the time, I'd probably have been lethal trying to get the hang of bottles!

readytopop · 19/02/2008 02:51

Also, don't know if you've noticed, but the 'not to be used in pregnancy / breastfeeding' is a get out used by the manufactuers, like 'may contain nuts' or 'not suitable for U3's' They are unable to trial on people who are either, so there is no data, and they cover their arses to avoid being sued...

Flip