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Pregnancy

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

Original poster

Sertraline

30 replies

MoominMantra · 19/05/2019 12:17

I'm about 6 weeks pg and I was on 150mg Sertraline when I conceived. I've been trying to cut down the dose but tbh it's making me feel anxious and down. Is it ok to be taking this much?

OP posts:
moomin11 · 19/05/2019 12:59

I'm on it too but a lower dose, I was told it's safe. There's a few threads on here which will hopefully reassure you. Maybe give your gp a call to check? Congratulations on your pregnancy!

Original poster
MoominMantra · 19/05/2019 20:18

Thanks @moomin11 I know it is one they prescribe for people ttc so it should be ok I guess.

OP posts:
moomin11 · 19/05/2019 20:24

Yes and apparently if you're on different ones they often change you to that one as it's the safest. It's hard cos I'd prefer not to be on them during pregnancy too but I know the early stages are a trigger for me, I went on them after my last miscarriage. I might try to reduce/stop if I make it to 12 weeks but if I felt worse as you have I think it's better to be on them?

mynameiscalypso · 19/05/2019 20:28

I'm on 200mg and have been throughout (now nearly 27 weeks). It's much better for me to stay on them - in a moment of madness, I tried to come off them but felt so terrible that I quickly went back on them. My consultant said that she'd want me on them from 36 weeks in any event as I have a history of depression and it would be better to build up to having them in my system rather than wait to see if I got PND. Long way of saying, yes, it's totally fine to take that much!

Neverbroken · 20/05/2019 01:59

I’m supposed to be starting these I’ve been told they are fine during pregnancy just that when you deliver baby might be a bit irritable for a few days while it leaves their system. I’m still reluctant to take them.

littleyellowpencil · 20/05/2019 02:40

I took it 12 years ago when pregnant.

I wish I hadn't, my son has lasting complications :(

Original poster
MoominMantra · 20/05/2019 03:56

What complications @littleyellowpencil ? I'm sorry to hear this...

OP posts:
justchecking1 · 20/05/2019 13:05

The risk is for persistent hypertension in the newborn. You're fine for now. Have another go at reducing the dose in the last trimester if you can

Neverbroken · 20/05/2019 16:12

Sorry to hear that. That’s why I was skeptical about taking them, I read they can give your baby heart defects that’s why I didn’t take them

mynameiscalypso · 20/05/2019 17:10

Honestly, there's a lot of scaremongering online. I'm satisfied having discussed with my obstetrician, consultant psych, perinatal psych midwife and perinatal psych nurse that none of them have raised any risks around sertraline and certainly nothing that would stop me taking them. My psych said he read an academic study a month or two ago which said that they were even safer than first thought.

Neverbroken · 21/05/2019 01:29

@littleyellowpencil did you take them throughout the pregnancy?

Maybe it’s offering results if you take them through rather than only part way through?

Neverbroken · 21/05/2019 01:45

I’ve always been very against taking AD’s but now I hate the thought of all the negative thoughts I have affecting baby so for the first time since being diagnosed I’m very much open to the idea

moomin11 · 21/05/2019 05:16

@Neverbroken there is an increased risk of heart defects but it's still small over all
www.nhs.uk/news/pregnancy-and-child/antidepressants-and-pregnancy/
I think it's a very individual choice weighing up the risk with the potential benefits. Are you taking anything at the moment and have you been offered talking therapy?

TreesoftheField · 21/05/2019 05:32

I started taking sertraline at 20 weeks due to persistent thoughts of self harm.
It's generally considered safer than the risk of your mental health deteriorating. I had a planned section and just had to stay in for 36 hours after. They kept me on transitional care ward for extra monitoring and just checked on us very frequently, we were both fine and I didn't get PND this time hooray! Parenting on ADs has been a lovely experience

Neverbroken · 22/05/2019 00:00

Taking nothing at the moment & have been struggling. I think the hormone changes have affected me a lot. Was given a prescription form sertraline but just really don’t want them to have negative affects on baby. Depression is something I’ve struggled with for 10 years now but I really want to be able to be happy when she gets here so considering them after the birth maybe?

moomin11 · 22/05/2019 07:05

That's an option too. It's important though if you're struggling to get some help now, in my area you can self refer for counselling but I know every area is different. Hope you can get some support Flowers

Original poster
MoominMantra · 22/05/2019 07:24

After you've given birth it can really upset your brain chemistry. I was hospitalised in a mother and baby unit after dd3 was born.

OP posts:
Original poster
MoominMantra · 24/05/2019 07:46

After cutting my dose right down to 50mg I've had a truly awful day yesterday. I think that when you've been well for so long you can forget what it's like to be poorly. So I'm going to increase my dose again. After my last child was born I had to go into a mother and baby psychiatric ward.

Children who are born to mothers who were depressed in pregnancy are more likely to have ADHD or autism. I myself am autistic so the genetic factor is already there.

OP posts:
Nomintrude · 24/05/2019 07:54

@littleyellowpencil sorry to barge onto this thread but what are the complications caused by sertraline while you were pregnant? I think it's pretty unfair to drop a comment like that on a mental health thread without clarifying anything.
I'm also on sertraline btw. It absolutely saved my mental health and quality of life and I'm considering whether or not to try and come off to ttc. I think on balance I'm better off staying on them rather than unleashing a potential nightmare!

moomin11 · 24/05/2019 08:32

MoominMantra you need to do what works for you, the advice I have had consistently so far has been that the benefits outweigh the risks. I do feel like not enough importance is placed on the mum's/mum to be's mental health.

moomin11 · 24/05/2019 08:33

How are you doing @Neverbroken?

Neverbroken · 24/05/2019 12:50

Spoke with my new GP today who said they are completely safe in pregnancy. I suppose because baby’s heart is completely formed already aswell that should be okay right? Going to start them. I want to be happy for me & my baby. I just want to be the best mom I can be to her.

Original poster
MoominMantra · 24/05/2019 17:07

@Neverbroken I have found sertraline to be a miracle drug for me. I never knew how it was to feel ok until I took them.

OP posts:
moomin11 · 26/05/2019 08:28

I'm glad your GP has reassured you. Apparently they can make you feel worse before you feel better but I felt better from day 1. They made me sleepy and nauseous to start with so I take them in the evening after dinner. Best of luck x

moomin11 · 26/05/2019 08:31

MoominMantra when you tried to cut down did you do it really gradually? Might be worth trying to go down to 125 for a few weeks and if you feel ok then try 100 for another few?

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