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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Taking Sertraline during pregnancy - any recent experience?

15 replies

Pearljam79 · 23/08/2014 09:42

There was a thread about this a few years ago but I just wondered if any ladies out there are currently on Sertraline whilst pg/bf? I've been on it for 6 months and just found out (to my and my dh's) shock and surprise (we've been ttc for 3 years) that I'm 5 weeks pg. I don't really want to stop taking it but I'm concerned there may be issues if I continue with it...

OP posts:
ithoughtofitfirst · 23/08/2014 09:54

I am taking it and currently 33 weeks. I was on Venlafaxine for a while but my psychiatrist kept mentioning sertraline as the one to be on if I want to breastfeed and (after much thought) decided I did cause i breastfed my DS and enjoyed It. So i switched really recently. All the scans are fine and measurements have been spot on so it seems to be ok. Plus i have felt more stable this pregnancy than I did last time which has meant ive been eating well, exercising and taking vitamins etc etc so you have kind of got to weigh it all up really

Congratulations btw! Xx

Sammi1986 · 23/08/2014 10:49

Me, after discussing it with my doc we all agreed the benefits of me continuing the medication outweighed any risk. However she was keen to stress that I couldn't go by the online arguments that scaremonger women into believing their babies are at risk as there have obviously not been any medical trials.
My baby is now a happy healthy 14 week old.
Good luck in your pregnancy and stay well! :)

WhyNotSmile · 23/08/2014 13:12

I've been on 100mg daily a while - reduced from 150mg on GP's advice when we decided to start TTC. I talked it through with my GP and she said it was very safe, and the benefits far outweighed the risks. All the research I did said the same. My son was born 15 days ago and is fine! He was a bit early (4 weeks) but there's no reason to think that was anything to do with the medication. I wouldn't think twice about staying on it if I was pregnant again!

Lalalax3 · 23/08/2014 17:43

I'm breastfeeding on Venlafaxine. My GP and midwife both checked it out for me and said the + will outweigh the -

Original poster
Pearljam79 · 23/08/2014 22:53

Thankyou ithought, Sammi, Whynot & mrsg, that's super helpful and has set my mind at rest, I was so worried that I would have to stop taking it and how that would affect me (I've suffered with depression & stress for several years) and the thought of adding a baby into the mix was frightening to say the least!

OP posts:
LBNM19 · 24/08/2014 13:14

Hi I'm also taking it, started during pregnancy around 20 weeks I'm now 31 weeks, on 50mg x

Original poster
Pearljam79 · 25/08/2014 09:49

Hi LBNM - I'm so glad to hear I'm not the only m2b out there who's taking antidepressants - it's kind of reassuring! I'm taking 100mg daily which has helped level out my moods and generally made my life (and my husband's) a lot easier!
How has it been for you? X

OP posts:
LBNM19 · 25/08/2014 13:23

Hi, yes it's really helped me, I had postnatal depression after my first child was born and was prescribed citalopram, I recovered pretty quickly and was only on them for 5 months. This time it was more anixety for me which was why they were started during pregnancy I was having very intrusive thoughts and ended up under mental health team etc, along with that and the meds I feel alot better. Glad to hear they are making life easier for you to. I was worried about taking them but defiantly worth it xx

Peaceloveandbiscuits · 26/08/2014 16:13

I'm on 100mg sertraline and currently 22 weeks with no problems. My consultant agreed for me to go up to 150mg if necessary. Personally, I'm 100% more of a risk to my baby and myself without it, so I'm definitely staying on it when I hopefully breastfeed too!
I changed to sertraline from 300mg venlafaxine a few years ago as I wasn't getting on with it after years at that dose, and I mentioned to the psychiatrist that I wanted to TTC, and she recommended sertraline as the #1 option for TTC/pregnant/breastfeeding women :) congratulations! Take care of yourself in the first few months because not only do the hormones make you feel crap, but since you'll have more blood pumping around your body, the concentration of medication can be diluted and you might feel wobbly. Make sure you have a strong support network and know who to call in a crisis.

HerVagesty · 27/08/2014 09:34

I am on 150 a day and ditto what Peaceloveandbiscuits mentioned. I am also more at risk without it and if not on it will affect DS and DD(in-utero) negatively as well as myself.

36 weeks pregnant and it's one of the safest to take during pregnancy at this current time! The baby gets such a small concentration of the drug through the placenta and in the breast milk that there are no withdrawal symptoms upon birth or weaning.

Congratulations, good luck and whatever you do don't miss a dose! It feels worse when you are pregnant and the zaps and jitters (I find) kick in within 3 hours of missing the dose!

georgie27 · 14/10/2014 17:37

I would like to hear about this too... any more experiences? ...

LittlePeasMummy1 · 15/10/2014 09:48

Hi all,

here is a patient information leaflet about use of sertraline in pregnancy. Hope this is helpful

www.medicinesinpregnancy.org/Medicine--pregnancy/Sertraline/

purplebiro · 15/10/2014 11:27

Hiya,

I am currently pregnant (not sure how far along...probs about 10 weeks.
...long story...see my other threads!) and on 50mg sertraline.

I was on 60mg mirtazipine before TTC and GP advised for me to tail off once I had the IUD removed, which I duly did, got down to 0 and went into absolute crisis! Went back to GP and he refused to put me back on mirtazipine or anything else while I was still TTC (which obviously left me feeling like a pile of shite)...week later I went back with the intention of saying "fine, I'll stop TTC then, cos I'm not able to live like this" and saw a MUCH nicer GP (he's now my go to guy!) who put me on the sertraline.

Saw him last week when I found out I was preggo and he was happy for me to stay on 50mg until at least 3rd trimester and has said we can review again then. Sounds like I will have shared care (midwife/hospital) for the duration because of the mental health stuff but will find out more at my booking in appointment tomorrow.

blairsmummy · 10/04/2016 19:09

Hi there, I'm just wondering if anyone here has experience of taKing sertraline during pregnancy. I'm 19 weeks and just about to go onto it after coming off of lofepramine, on advice from a psychiatrist and obstetrician. Is there anyone who's taken it and had their baby already, if so was the baby ok at birth? I'm meant to be starting tonight but I'm just so nervous.

Valerie21 · 12/04/2016 12:05

I took Setraline with my first baby. I found she was a very sleepy baby. Grin with my second I wasn't on any medications and she certainly is not a sleepy baby! Always but it down to the meds for first being a great sleeper !

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