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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Has anyone taken antidepressants throughout their pregnancy?

30 replies

charlottexox · 06/04/2016 14:11

I have been on 30mg of ''Mirtazapine'' for over a year now due to severe depression. I am currently 19 weeks (20 on Friday) and my GP recommended that I do continue my medication as he said that it would be for the best.
He did as my medication is such a new drug, there hasn't been many trials done on it so they aren't too sure if it's 100% safe or not.
He did state that because my baby will have withdrawal from my medication he/she may have to spend some time in hospital to be monitored.
Of course, I worry about my baby's health, but I am so scared of relapsing if I stop taking them.
Any positive pregnancy/birth stories of mama's who have taken antidepressants during their pregnancy?

OP posts:

kamillaw · 06/04/2016 14:35

I'm about to give birth to my third. I've had ssri's all throughout each pregnancy babies born healthy and well. This last pregnancy I've had a lot of psych input. You should see if you can have the same as they will get detailed info for you. X

Belager · 06/04/2016 17:30

I was prescribed sertraline at 17 weeks and I'm so glad I'm not the only one. Feel like I'm letting down my DP and baby.

Belager · 06/04/2016 17:31

I'm 21+2

weegiemum · 06/04/2016 17:41

I took sertraline from when my dd1 was born, through breastfeeding her for a year, pg with ds then feeding him 15 months then pg with dd2 and feeding her for 2 years (in fact I'm still on it and dd1 is 16, ds 14 and dd2 12!)

They're all perfectly fine!

Paperblank · 06/04/2016 17:45

I took Citalopram throughout pregnancy - I've been on it for ages (10mg). My GP was happy for me to stay on it, but then I am on a fairly low dose.

herstoryyes · 06/04/2016 17:50

Lots of my friends did this and all worked out fine. They have to warn you about side-effects because that's standard. You could ask to be referred to the perinatal psychiatry team, they'll be able to help/reassure you because they are the specialists in this area in terms of managing your symptoms and keeping baby ok. Best wishes.

sparkle789 · 06/04/2016 17:59

I was on 100mg of quetiapine through my second pregnancy. They weaned me down in the last few weeks and then back up after.
The doctors advised me to continue my medication.
I was warned dd may suffer withdrawal affects and although we stayed in 3 days for obs everything was fine.

sparkle789 · 06/04/2016 18:00

I was under the perinatal mental health team it was the who decreases and increased meds.

jellyjiggles · 06/04/2016 18:05

Took Sertraline and she is beyond ok!

Duckstar · 06/04/2016 18:08

I took mitrazipine from 28 - 36 weeks pregnant for anxiety and citalopram till 6 weeks post-birth. I was under a perinatal psychiatrist. His view was the risks of untreated anxiety were far more damaging and that the studies done (and they are limited because they can only study women who are actually on the tablets - can't do drug trials on pregnant women) was that there was no risk to baby. I did come off mitrazipine before I had baby (under medical supervision), as my anxiety had massively reduced, and the psychiatrist did not recommend breastfeeding on mitrazipine as it could make baby drowsy. DC3 is 9 weeks old completely healthy.

Original poster

charlottexox · 06/04/2016 19:55

Hi ladies,
loved reading your replies and its made me feel so much more confident.
I am currently seeing a parental psychiatrist which is a great help and weighed up the risks for me.
I do think I'm doing the right thing continuing my medication, so reading all the responses has made me feel tons better

OP posts:

StinkyMcgrinky · 06/04/2016 20:18

I've been taking 50mg setraline since my DS was 5 weeks old (PND), I'm now 25 weeks with DS2 and just last week was upped to 100mg daily to deal with increased anxiety.

GP, midwife and consultant are all very supportive of me taking medication and believe a happy and healthy Mum is far better for baby than what would happen if I stopped taking them. Baby is 100% healthy and everything is looking good

Moonandstarsandback · 07/04/2016 08:54

Aww Hun, it's all such a worry isn't it? But I agree you have to weigh up the risks and I think you know you need to keep taking meds. I was on fluoxetine throughout my pregnancy, changing to sertraline for 3rd trimester and after birth for breastfeeding. My little boy is 5.5 now and he was fine at birth. No side effects or withdrawal. You need to be well for your baby have they discussed putting you on a more known 'safe' a/d? Or have others not worked for you?

Looiloo79 · 07/04/2016 09:38

I'm pleased for all the positive replies. I'm nearly 6 weeks and was worried the doctor is going to make me come of 20mg citalopram. Don't think I could cope without it.

Seeing your posts reassured me that they are OK to continue and no side effects for baby.

MeDownSouth · 07/04/2016 18:49

Hi Looiloo,

I'm on Citalopram too. I was on 30mg daily but I've been dropped to 10mg every other day. I was feeling better before we found out about baby but the doctor said they'd prefer to have healthy and happy mum as on this drug it appears to be a lower risk to baby (here's where I jinx us ). I've also been referred to a mental health midwife who I got a lovely letter from so looking forward to meeting her.

Good luck!

jellybelly85 · 07/04/2016 20:21

charlottexox I'm 30 weeks and have been on lofepramine throughout. Also had great support through seeing perinatal mental health psychiatrist every 6 weeks - just to check in and see how I'm progressing.

It's often difficult to rationalise weighing up risks (risk of unstable mental health vs slight increased risk of x in baby). I've come round to the view that looking after your health (both mental and physical) is the best thing you can do for your baby. Hope you continue to feel well

user1460124741 · 08/04/2016 15:20

Ive just found out today that I'm about 4 weeks pregnant ive had pre pregnancy appointments with a perinatal psychiatrist and we have decided that I need to stay on a small dose of Asenapine. It's a very new drug so there are no studies on it and ive been told it may place me at a higher risk of gestational diabetes but he assures me I will be monitored for that. I tried to come off my medication to conceive but had a bipolar relapse in the process so think ive accepted that healthy mum= healthy baby and so for me medication is essential. So excited but nervous to be in the army stages my period would have been due around now and I keep imagining period pains x

Flowzer · 08/04/2016 19:44

I was on sertraline for the whole of my first pregnancy and breastfeeding, and am still on it 12 weeks into my second pregnancy. My son had a very mild and occasional tremor for a few days after birth (withdrawal), but is a completely healthy 4 year old.

You're not letting anyone down, you're being as well as you can be for your baby.

sandy30 · 08/04/2016 22:41

I was on citalopram throughout my pregnancy and baby fine. GP was more concerned about me breastfeeding on it, but obstetrician fine with breastfeeding. If you want to breastfeed, your psych team could have a look at LactMed. Have a wonderful pregnancy!

cacolac · 07/09/2020 23:25

Old thread I know but I thought I'd warn people. I took citalopram low does (5-10mg) in each of my pregnancies and my two children both have issues. My daughter has sensory processing issues and possibly asd and my son has been recently diagnosed with Pandas. He had sensory issues before pandas. I have also since read studies that SSRIs in pregnancy can cause an 18 percent chance of chiari (brain stem abnormality) as opposed to 2 percent . I don't know if my children's issues are due to this but since suffering severe protracted withdrawal from SSRIs and experiencing similar issues to..y children I wonder if it may have. I know this isn't what people want to hear but if I could turn back time I would.

Inkpaperstars · 08/09/2020 00:55

@cacolac why were you prescribed such low doses of citalopram? That wouldn't have a therapeutic effect.

Inkpaperstars · 08/09/2020 00:57

Sorry if that sounded abrupt! It wasn't meant to and I am sorry to hear of the struggles you and your dc have had.

cacolac · 08/09/2020 08:07

Hi @Inkpaperstars I was on a low dose as that was all I needed and I was trying to keep it low due to being pregnant. I think a therapeutic dose is perhaps what might suit the majority but some people are more sensitive and process medications differently. I suffer from side effects to many medications and have been diagnosed with ME/ CFS in recent years which is known to have medication sensitivity. My son has also been shown to be sensitive e.g. reacting to an asthma inhaler. Weird genes I think.

Bluejayway91 · 08/09/2020 09:37

Hi OP,

I was on Fluoxetine for years and then got pregnant. However, I was told by a pharmacist and a doctor that I should come off them as it can be harmful for the baby and they can get withdrawal, so I weaned myself off them.

A few weeks down the line I became very paranoid, anxious and depressed. I couldn't relax at the weekend and was an absolute mess.

I couple of weeks ago I had a telephone appointment with an antenatal mental health consultant who I told all my issues to. She was very concerned with the incorrect advice I was given and said that I shouldn't have been taken off them. I am now back on my usual dose a feel much more balanced. I've got an appointment at the hospital in a couple of weeks to see how I'm getting on.

The consultant said that it's very rare for the baby to have issues and all they'll do is keep me in for 24 hours to monitor him. They're going to do that anyway as I'm Group B Strep positive.

If you need SSRIs, I would advise that you keep taking them.

I didn't realise just how much they kept me balanced until I wasn't on them, and it was truly horrific.

Inkpaperstars · 08/09/2020 10:20

That's interesting @cacolac, I'd not heard of that level of sensitivity. I usually have to take high doses. I am sorry you have had problems

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