Pregnancy & Anti Depressants

[TanJ18]

Hello
Has anyone fallen pregnant whilst take Citalapram? I was on it when I fell pregnant with second baby. I'm almost 12 weeks now and stopped it around 6 weeks as had to reduce first.
Any tips on how you ladies are coping with not being on medication for anxiety?
Mine is at a manageable level at the moment but it worries me a lot.

Xxx

Hi TanJ18. I was very similar to you - got pregnant on Citalopram and weaned off around 6 weeks. Managed alright for a while but saw a real return of my depression (with added anxiety and panic attacks) into the second trimester. I'm now 26 weeks and have been on Sertraline since 21 weeks. It has made an enormous difference - aches and pains aside I feel so much more able to enjoy my pregnancy and look forward to meeting my baby. I was a total mess before.

I was under monitoring from early on by a community psychiatric nurse and by the consultants at the hospital - if you have concerns, ask your midwife if there are processes in your area for monitoring pregnant women with mental health issues. For me it was a real help to be 'in the system' of antenatal mental health care before my symptoms peaked as it meant I knew I just had to hold on to my next appointment. That said, it's you GP who'll most likely make out the prescription if you need one, so you can always go speak to them.

A few thoughts if you do see yourself going back on medication. Consultant advised me to wait until after 20 week scan largely for peace of mind (so I would know for sure if there were issues that my going back on medication hadn't caused them). She also said that going off in first trimester was the most crucial time for development and that evidence for risks from taking just in later pregnancy was less conclusive (there is the risk of post-birth withdrawal for baby but this is temporary).

If you ask your GP what AD is best in pregnancy they will probably just check their big book which is equalled Eeyoreish about all of them! My psychiatric nurse advised Sertraline. It's been around for longer so there's more evidence for it generally being ok to take, and it isn't present in breast milk in the same quantities as Citalopram. That said all HCPs I saw were perfectly happy to see me going back into Citalopram if Sertraline didn't suit me.

You are growing a person but your mental health is incredibly important. You've done amazingly well coming off for the first trimester. There is absolutely no shame in needing help of whatever sort as you proceed through the pregnancy. Good luck and best wishes!

Hello

Thank you so much for replying to me. I really appreciate it

I ended up on sertraline with my first pregnancy... at around the same weeks as you. I was very nervous taking it but it did work wonders for me.

I then went back on citalapram after my daughter was born, and have been on it ever since I fell pregnant again. I've never wanted to rely on medication but like you I have suffered with aniexty and panic attacks mine started in 2014.

I am hoping this time around I can do it without anything.. but I guess I need to ensure that I don't put my baby at risk by being too stressed...

Xxx

I am Sertraline and like the other lady said I was a mess before I started it - around week 15. I think it's fairly safe. I am under psychiatrist care and was reassured about possible effects on the baby. In fact the depression and the anxiety seems worse for the baby than the drugs. Hope all goes well for you.