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Pregnancy

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

Pregnancy and citalopram

30 replies

Frenchfancies · 27/01/2015 07:39

Hello, Got the BFP and stopped taking my citalopram (10mg) straight away but feel so crappy. Head is like a ball of cotton wool. Just wondered if anyone else was on it went they fell pregnant?

OP posts:
Currentlyclueless · 27/01/2015 09:05

You're allowed up to 100mg of citalopram a day when preg

hodgepodgepanda · 27/01/2015 09:12

My GP stopped my Citalopram (20mg a day) as soon as I found out I were pregnant , because in his words 'the baby will be born an addict if you are to continue'
I'd speak to your GP & see what they say as they will know best

hodgepodgepanda · 27/01/2015 09:14

Sorry that came across as rather brash , wasn't meant to Smile

rascalrae · 27/01/2015 09:18

If you just suddenly stop taking then, you will feel scscratch. It's better to slowly decrease the dose e.g. reducing to 5mg, taking in alternate days, then every 3 days, 4 etc. But best to discuss with your GP.

kitkatkaty87 · 27/01/2015 09:19

I stopped just before i got pregnant. Ended up going back on it at about 12 weeks at 20mg and have been on it since. Speak to your doctor but they haven't had any problems with me going back on it and I felt better again within a few weeks. I have also been told by midwife I can breast feed on it as it's a low dose. You need to be happy for your baby and yourself so definately go back and see what your doctor says.x

rascalrae · 27/01/2015 09:20

Sorry, my post was meant to say "crappy"

butterflycats · 27/01/2015 10:18

You're definitely not allowed 100mg citalopram at any time, let alone during pregnancy! Usual dose is 10-40mg max a day.
Your baby won't become addicted to citalopram, most important thing is you are happy and healthy during pregnancy. There are "better" antidepressants to take during pregnancy, such as fluoxetine, so it might be worth discussing it with you gp xxxxx

User24689 · 27/01/2015 10:27

I have taken citalopram (before I was pregnant). I thought it was safe in pregnancy but if you come off it you really should taper. I felt dreadful when I came off that drug even when gradually decreasing the dose. I'm surprised your gp told you to just stop taking it!

User24689 · 27/01/2015 10:28

Ooh sorry OP just saw it was someone else's gp that said to stop! I would speak to your gp about a plan to taper off.

Currentlyclueless · 27/01/2015 10:47

You are allowed up to 100mg a day it's in my notes for medications safe for use during pregnancy. (Medic notes) my sister was on 100mg a day also and she is a doctor I doubt she would have done anything to harm the babies.

My gp and parents have also said it's safe especially considering you're on such a low dose.

butterflycats · 27/01/2015 11:11

Sorry clueless... I'm a GP and the maximum dose for anyone is 40mg... 100mg is a very high dose of citalopram and should never be used in anyone.
www.mims.co.uk/news/1106021/

Back to the OP.... Please see your GP, we're actually mostly a very friendly bunch and want what's best for you xxxx

Currentlyclueless · 27/01/2015 11:18

I know multiple people on the dosage? In Uni we have been told it's safe and Doctors in my family granted they aren't Gps so don't prescribe the drug have said it's safe.

butterflycats · 27/01/2015 11:24

Sorry clueless, 100mg is never a safe dose. I suggest they see their GP and read the leaflet in their box. It might be they're not on citalopram, and on a medication like sertraline which Is also an antidepressant, and safe to use 100mg of that dose.

OP some of my patients in the past have found this useful, but please see your own Gp, and take this along with you if you would like xxxx

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

rinabean · 27/01/2015 11:33

butterflycats you are so wrong I can't believe. I've been on 60mg in the past and I could have gone higher. 40mg is obviously not the highest dose rofl. What is with all the self-proclaimed doctors on here who think they know the max doses which apparently every other doctor in the country hasn't heard of?

butterflycats · 27/01/2015 11:38

Rinabean, the highest dose used to be 60mg, but was reduced in 2011 to 40mg.... See link above

butterflycats · 27/01/2015 11:41

Here you go, bnf, doctors bible for medications....

Pregnancy and citalopram
RedSal · 27/01/2015 11:48

I had been on 10mg Citalopram for 9 months before getting preg- GP knew I was TTC when put me on and had also planned to raise the dosage but wasn't needed. I had just started to come off (gradually as people say - going down to alternate days then one in 3) as didn't feel the need any more, when found out I was preg. GP said I should stabilise the dose back at 10mg as it was potentially a stressful/ anxious time and benefit outweighed the risk. MW agreed. At about 4 months (I forget exactly) MW wanted me to see local hosp consultant clinic who does all the mental health/ etc issues in preg. they also said i shld stay on, and for post-birth period too, as stability again outweighs any (tiny risk of) potential probs. They are all still v happy with this, so I did what they said.

The only slight regret I have is that (at 38 wks today) it is making it a little tricky to finalise where I am having the baby! MW is frustrated that local guidelines (so may not be the same where you live OP) cover the (very small) dose of 10mg the same as any similar medication in preg (which as others posters have said can be way higher). this means the protocol suggests 24 hours obs of baby. in theory I would be very happy with this as is 1st birth and I want all the help I can get! but, annoyingly, local MW centre was put on reduced hours last month and is now day time plus on-call, with no overnighyt stays after birth, with the result that in theory they may want to send me to the local hosp 30 mins away where my partner can't stay in. MW's best advice so far is that i can just discharge myself, which makes me a little nervous!

so yeah, i think what I am saying is, from my experience everyone has been very happy about me staying on, but if i'd known it wld have an impact on birth choices (which everyone told me it wldnt, grr!!) i might have asked again about possible tapering off of dosage.

hope you get sorted - it doesn't seem a massive issue either way, so don't worry!

butterflycats · 27/01/2015 11:56

redsal that's such sad news about the local MW centre, my local one has recently closed down and it's such a shame (I'd be too high risk to use it anyway but never mind). I'm sure you'll have a great little one in your arms in a few weeks anyway so just enjoy it xxx

butterflycats · 27/01/2015 12:20

Still rofl? I'm a GP and just trying to give people the correct information, rather than people who think they know better giving wrong information

PenguinPoser · 27/01/2015 12:21

Agree with butterflycats - the pros and cons of antidepressants in pregnancy need to be weighed up on each individual case, definitely need to have a chat with your GP about it and see if it's better for you to stop, continue or try an alternative medication. Good luck OP Smile

Frenchfancies · 27/01/2015 14:19

I first went on it 7yrs ago and my doctor had always said 60mg was the absolute max you could take, and that now it was down to 40mg. I wouldn't dream of taking more than 60mg even at my worst, I can't imagine you would even be able to get out of bed at a higher dosage it's pretty effective stuff!

That aside saw my GP this morning and she said as I've already stopped taking it (over a week now) then to just carry on but she would have suggested weaning me off it (as others above have said) so as not to feel the side effects as bad as I have. Think I will just stay off it for as long as I can (was only 10mg now anyway) and just see how I feel. I've read elsewhere that Gps advise to come off if you can, but if the anxiety outweighs the benefits of not being on it, then it's safer to be on it for you and baby.

But really appreciate different views on it so thank you.

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milkandchalk · 27/01/2015 17:38

I have to say I'm really worried about the conflicting ideas here. I was on 20mg and I've managed to taper down to 20mg every other day (sometimes every 3 days!)
I felt horrible when reducing but seem to have plateaued now. however, I'm scared to come off completely and I don't know if I want to. My gp had said that she could put me on a different one. Would I feel any side effects when transferring onto another drugs?

Glossyflower · 27/01/2015 18:31

I was on citalopram during first pg, however due to hyperemesis could not keep up with keeping tablets down. I know I'm pretty bad if I just stop them so for this new pg I'm carrying on with them.
Yes baby can be born and suffer withdrawals, but I planned to keep taking and breastfeed to wean off of that makes sense. It's weighing up the risks of taking them and feeling well or not taking them and not coping with your mental health. Everyone's different and it's up to you. There are some risks like with anything. My daughter was born fine , and at 21 months she's still fine xxx

Glossyflower · 27/01/2015 18:34

As for max dosage concerns, my max was 20mg, was told by GP 40mg is highest dose and as a nurse I've only ever seen patients on either 10, 20 or 40mg.

Frenchfancies · 27/01/2015 18:52

Ah glossyflower, think I'm on the October thread with you too!
Congrats by the way! Smile

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