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

Fluoxetine (Prozac) and TTC/Pregnancy

7 replies

jumblequeen · 03/11/2009 21:42

Hi All,

I'm TTC and am currently taking 20mg of Fluoxetine a day. I have been taking ADs all of my adult life so I don't feel that coming off them is an option. The research regarding ADs and TTC/pregnancy is so conflicting... can anyone give me any advice about this? I realise this is more a question for a doctor but would appreciate some personal experience...

OP posts:

gloriana · 03/11/2009 21:57

Hi Jumblequeen, I took fluoxetine throughout my pregnancy with DS3 (think I was on 40mg and then went down to 20mg just before the birth). DS3 is now 3 and shows no signs of any adverse effects of me being on medication through my pregnancy. I did see the consultant before the birth who advised me to drop my dosage (if I could) in the week before my due date as he said that the baby would have withdrawal symptoms when he was born. They get a slight amount through breast milk but not nearly as much as they've been used to in the womb. He said this can make them more irritable.

Other than that, I had no other issues/problems and don't think DS3 has suffered either. I think that it is far better for you to control your depression (which in itself can negatively affect your baby) and wish you good luck with TTC

lostlenore · 04/11/2009 16:13

Hello y'all.

I am 22 weeks pg and have just started taking fluoxetine (20mg). I have also been scouring the internet but it is all terribly confusing. The general consensus seems to be 'if the benefit to the mother outweighs the risk to the baby' (which might not be anything at all) then you should continue with the ad's.

It appears that depression itself is risky to the baby (in terms of things that you didn't do ie hurting yourself) so it is better to take them if you need them.

Gloriana did your DS withdraw? Did you breastfeed him and did you notice he was particularly cross/jittery? I am worrying about this for my pregnancy. (sorry, don't mean to hijack thread)

gloriana · 04/11/2009 22:24

I have to say that I didn't notice him being any more cross/jittery than my other two (wasn't on fluoxetine for their pregnancies). I did have a very quick home birth though and felt that I bonded with him v quickly (this may not have happened if I had been depressed) I did bf him initially but had so many problems (thrush etc) that gave up after 2 weeks.

My consultant was very helpful in saying that there is far more research regarding fluoxetine and pregnancy than any other AD so if you have to take an AD, it's the one to take as the research suggests it's the safest.

Original poster

jumblequeen · 05/11/2009 08:41

Thanks all for the advice. As I've already reduced my dosage from 40 to 20mg I think I should be okay... I was just worried that I'd have to come off altogether really.

OP posts:

lostlenore · 06/11/2009 18:15

Keep on truckin'! Will hopefully hear some good news from you on here soon! x

Original poster

jumblequeen · 07/11/2009 17:02

I hope so too! Thank you x

OP posts:

Kaloki · 08/11/2009 01:17

I'm on anti-d's too, though not fluoxetine. Although I'm not pregnant yet, I spoke to my doctor about it and he said should be ok to carry on with them through pregnancy, but to cut down if possible.

Flip