Antidepressants and Pregnancy: your story

[thingamajig]

I want to do some research into this area, I am a Pharmacology graduate and have the prospect of some funding to find out more. I have a bee in my bonnet about the way a lot of women are taken off their ADs or changed to a different one and the consequences that has. Often there is no proof that staying on the same one would do any harm to the baby.
The other concern I have is the lack of information available about the effects of different ADs in pregnancy and breastfeeding.

I am on a high dose of citalopram, which I stayed on (and increased) during my pregnancy. My midwife believed that I should be moved onto sertroline, my GP didnt know, My psychiatrist didn't really either, but thought that the balance between the benefits to me and the risks to the baby should be thought through. I asked the midwife to get the pharmacist at the hospital to look up the relevant facts. If I hadnt persisted I would not have got this information. Much the same story on the question of breastfeeding.

A couple of friends of mine have not been so well treated, and it has caused them a lot of pain and suffering at a very emotional time in their lives.

I was wondering if you could help me and what thoughts you had on these issues, and what your experiences were. This will help me see if this is a wider problem. Specifically, I would like to know:
-what AD you were on pre-pregnancy
-what you were changed on to (if applicable)
-who made this decision (GP or psychiatrist etc)
-whether you remained well mentally throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding.
-anything else you would like to add.

Thank you, I really want to do something useful in this area.

Hi - I don't yet have a child, but if it helps at all here is my information:

TTC#1 for 16months - on venlaflaxine slow release - at medium-high dose for 14 months, now at highest dose for 2 cycles. Psychiatrist said this medication was suitable for TTC and that I was to stay on it, despite my concerns.

I have taken sertraline (mid and high doses) when TTC, but wasn't TTC when on it with serious intent but was not successful in conceiving.

I am posting here now so it is om threAds I am on but will do longer reply later

I have DS1 (18 months) and am expecting DC2 (am 34 weeks)

Pre DS1 I was on 225mg Venlafaxine which was reduced gradually throughout my pg by my GP to 75mg.
Psychiatrist tried to get me to change to Sertraline as 'safer for Breastfeeding' but I refused as I had read a lot of stuff on here and another site about venlafaxine and didn't want to chop and change just before the biggest change in my life.

I am now on 37.5mg venlafaxine, which I decided to drop to myself as my psych care here is rubbish - I saw a psych when DS was born, was supposed to have a 6 month follow up (which I chased and left 3-4 messages and never heard anything).

I do have an appt with my GP next Tuesday to review my medication though.

Since having DS I am much better, although the hormones during this pregnancy have made it hard and I probably should have had more care but there are only so many times I can chase for a referral to 'maternal mental health'

If you want any more info, I can post my email address for you

was on citalopram v. briefly, then found out I was pg and was taken off it. Then around 20 weeks started struggling badly with depression/OCD. GP and counsellor were worse than useless - colluding in deciding I didn't need a psych referral. fortunately the maternity hospital were amazing, and arrange for me to see a psychiatrist as an urgent referral, so got seen within a fortnight. psych balanced off my mental state/quality of life issues/risk of untreated depression/OCD against potential risk to baby, and was happy in the circs to prescribe a low dose of Prozac. One I was back on the meds, the only way was up.

I was on fluoextine pre-preg but came off to get pregnant. then antenatal depression kicked in and I went on citalopram for the bulk of the pregnancy. I came off before the end, again, hoping to be ok (I normally get 12 months depression free post natal), but at 13 weeks PN I am now on sertraline.

GP made the decisions about which ones, I made the going on/off the decisions. Sertraline was because she had had an email about recent research saying that although fluox & citalopram was safe for breastfeeding, sertraline has less go into the milk. The side effects have been worse with sertraline though. I'm giving them a good try, but would much prefer fluoxetine.

Hello there ladies and a huge thank you for taking the time to post on what is for some a sore subject.

Keziah, I hope that you have success in ttc soon.
Hedgehog, good luck with your baby and I'm glad that you have stayed on some ads.
Total chaos, I'm sorry you were taken of citalopram unnecessarily, it can be a real mine field with so many different professional with different opinions.
Sparrow, the sertraline line comes out again and again, but the effects of swapping drugs and the weaning on/off period can be much harder work for the patient than doctors seem to understand. Fluoxetine, as far as anyone knows, is not particularly risky to pregnancy and bf.

I am back again

-what AD you were on pre-pregnancy

I was taking citalopram before I got pregnant with DD. Was diagnosed with PND when DS was about 9 months (conceived DD when he was 13 months). Wasn't a planned pregnancy and I panicked and just stopped taking the citalopram.

-what you were changed on to (if applicable)

At about 12 weeks pregnant I was getting suicidal and went to see my GP. He was excellent and made an appt with a psychiatrist for me - I think I saw him either the next day, or day after that. Was presribed sertraline which I took for the rest of the pregnancy and until DD was about 18 months.

-whether you remained well mentally throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding.

My mental state improved throughout pregnancy and when DD was born I realised how much my depression had actually been there when DS was small, although undiagnosed. I breastfed DD until she was 10 months and had no problems with that. She (now 4.4) doesn't seem to have been affected at all.

-anything else you would like to add.

Very pleased that I had a sympathetic GP and then psychiatrist and that i was quickly put onto ADs. If I hadn't been I am fairly sure that things wouldn't have gone so well.

A problem for me was moving house a couple of weeks later - only a few miles away but to a different county and hence doctor area. I think I was able to go on seeing the original pysch for a while but then got a useless one in the county I am in now. But that could probably have happened anywhere - just a shame for continuity of care that you have to change lots of things when you move a short distance.

Hope my waffle may be some use

My big fear with the sert is it affecting my sex life. My marriage is all a bit of a mess atm and sex is the one reliable thing, I really don't it to go.

thanks thingmajig for starting this thread - it has helped me too, as well as you hopefully!

My concern is that there is little data to say venlaflaxine is safe and as I have not to be on 225mg MR am concerned it is prevented pregnancy as a blood test showed high prolactin, which can be caused by AD's - have you heard this in your work?