On Duloxetine - which isn't licensed in pregnancy - worried!

[aud1973]

Hi - I'm wondering if anyone else might be in a similar situation or if anyone has any info/advise for me. Finger's crossed!

I had my 1st daughter thru fertility treatment and she is now 5. I had MAJOR pnd and it just kinda morphed into general depression - especially after my daugther was diagnosed with hydrocephalus. The depression has gotten worse over the last year or so and I've been on lots of different anti-depressents to try and find the right one. The one that's worked best is duloxetine - which I understand is fairly new in being used for depression.

Due to earlier fertility issues I'd been told my chances of conceiving naturally were 0. So, hubby and I were shocked to find that I was expecting. I'm now 10 weeks along. We are very happy about this miracle but my duloxetine isn't licensed in pregnancy. My psychiatrist and GP have said I should move of it and I'm currently going cold turkey (not by choice but a manufacturing 'problem' means I can't get anymore pills from anywhere). The cold turkey is hell and they want me to see how I get on without any medication rather than putting me straight onto something else - fluoxetine.

So, really, after that big long winded intro (sorry) does anyone have any experience of either duloxetine or fluoxetine in pregnancy? I've not myself so wound up that the duloxetine might have damaged my baby - which really is a miracle for me to have in my tummy at all. I'm due a scan at 13/14 weeks and can't bear to think that something will be wrong then or that something might not show up until later in the pregnancy. My crap health board only offer 1 scan so unless I can persuade them I warrant further scan's we'll have to pay for any further privately.

So sorry to go on and on - this is just doing my head in.

Any info, advise etc would be soooooo welcome!

thanks in advance.

oh you poor thing, I am not pg but I am on duloxine so sending you HUGS hope you get some answers asap

First, congratulations on your pregnancy, what a surprise!
Second, I am sure that you have not harmed your baby, I was on a high dose of SSRIs throughout my pregnancy, and sought out loads of literature on their effects and they are generally harmless.
Third I really feel for you going cold turkey, as you know its not medically reccommended.
I hope that when things even out you are able to stay off ADs, pregnancy hormones can be very mood stabilising. If not, never mind, it is better for you to take themand be well for your dd and your baby than to be depressed.
I have no experiance of Duloxetine itself however I do know that SSRIs generally are not considered too bad during pregnancy, I am on a high dose of Citalopram and have been since before I was pregnant with dd (5 months) She is a normal healthy girl,who I was able to have at home,as she wasnt considered a risky pregnancy.
It is impossible to license a drug for pregnant women (or children for that matter) as no one wants to put their child potentially at risk going in a clinical trial. But SSRIs have been used in pregnant women for some time, and have shown few if any risks. A GP would not be highly trained in these areas, but if the psychiatrist says its okay, it probably is.

Hi there
I am new to this forum and found the forum whilst searching for Duloxetine in pregnancY!
I was on it for my FIbromyalgia and have weaned off it as we want to have another baby!
However the side effects and withdrawal is terrible, i am so upset and feel so ill dizzy, eye problems, nausea, depression (was not on it for that), agitation, nerve problems, tingling in limbs and around mouth to name but few.

Doctor wants to put me back on them as withdrawal so severe and they are ugly drugs which should notbe allowed!

I want to have another baby and am too scared as so depressed from with drawal and feel it will never and end and dont want to harm a fetus! I already have a toddler with Spina Bifida so am petrified.
PLease if you are not on them or still low dose please dont take them

Congrats on that unexpected pregnancy.
Am not on either of those meds, but on another SNRI not recommended for pregnancy and as I am ttc#1 (for 2yrs now) my psych said to stay on it - he has had 2 patients have healthy pregnancies and babies on venlaflaxine and he says they assess risks to mother and baby well.

Do ask to speak to a psychiatrist who specialises in pregnancy - I got offered that, but didn't take it up as we've fertility issues, so pregnancy not so likely without assistance.

I find best method to withdraw is to reduc them very, very slowly (not an option for OP, I know) - that way it is ok.