Citalopram when ttc and pregnant

[AnxiousMuma]

I'm hoping someone can give me a bit of advice? I began suffering from anxiety and obsessive behaviours (surrounding cleanliness and germs) when pregnant with my dd. This carried on after she was born and got quite severe so I was put on Citalopram 20mg which really helped. We recently decided to start ttc our second and I decided to wean off Citalopram, thinking I was feeling much better and I'd rather not take anything when pregnant. However, since I have been completely off I have notice gradual and subtle signs of my anxiety returning. This weekend felt particularly bad and I'm now questioning whether I should rethink and stay on it while ttc and throughout pregnancy.

So my question is, does anyone have any experiences of taking citalopram whilst ttc and pregnant? Has anyone weaned off then needed to go back on? Was everything ok? Is this safe? I want what is best for my unborn (and yet to even be conceived) baby, but I am also a Mum and need to be happy and healthy for her as my priority.

I will obviously discuss this with my gp but iv not managed to get an appointment yet.xx

I came off it myself before TTC as. The research I carried out showed links between the drug and foetal heart defects. Sorry.

Have you explored other avenues for managing your anxiety? CBT for one? Self hypnosis? It might be a gradual process to find out what works.

Also. Don't stop cold turkey. Go to your GP. Get 5s and 10s prescribed and work out a weaning off plan together.

Thank you! I have tried other things, I seen a therapist for a while which did help, I stopped seeing her when things got better. I did wean off gradually after discussing with my gp. I gradually decreased the dose until I was taking nothing and it went fine. I will of course speak to my GP again when I can, I just wanted peoples real experiences.
I wonder if I could manage to get through another pregnancy then start again straight after birth? Thank you for your advice xx

I got pregnant in March this year (30 weeks now) and when I went to my GP (to specifically ask about this because I’m on 40mg citalopram) she had just been to a seminar about anti depressants in pregnancy and citalopram is safe to use. I have kept to my dose and she said we won’t try tapering down whilst I’m pregnant or in the first few months after I’ve had the baby.

She was very happy for me to stay on it and my midwife even checks I’m still taking it when I see her.

@VapeVamp12 Omg thank you, reading that has instantly made me feel lots better, thank you! And you have had no problems at all? Congratulations on your pregnancy!! xx

Hey hun just a bit of reassurance for you here I've been on citalopram for well over 10 years from 20-30mg varying. Still on 20mg now. I'm also almost 25 weeks pregnant. Dr said it's absolutely safe and fine but as with everything there is small risk, even paracetamol. It is one of the safer drugs to take though.

She did tell me when I get to about 32 weeks not to be surprised if I need my dosage upping due to body not absorbing it as well or higher blood volume or some such and to be aware of that. Other than that she wants to keep the dosage the same and has no concerns.

Good luck and all the best xxx

@FirstTim3Mummy Thank you so much and congratulations!!! That's so very reassuring to hear! Did he Dr ever mention newborn withdrawal? That is something I am concerned about too but plan to breastfeed so hoping that would help. I managed to get an appointment at the Dr tomorrow morning so I will chat over everything with him, I think I'm leaning towards going back on it though, I would no good as a Mum without it xx

I got prescribed it when ttc because I was getting so down about not being able to conceive. Currently 35weeks pregnant and expecting a healthy little girl. Good luck x

@MrsSkr no problems at all, I’m having extra scans because my BMI is over 30 and they say everything looks perfect.

I’m getting nervous about actually having a baby now - he’s my first!!

I’m on 200mg sertraline and we’re TTC number 2. Number 1 was born when I had been on 100mg sertraline since 3 months pregnant and she was absolutely fine, no withdrawal issues at all. I went up to 200mg when she was 2 months old and still no issues - she was breastfed until 17 months.

If you need to be on it then take it, it’s important to put your health first. I struggled in pregnancy before I started taking it and things massively improved.

@NMCB congratulations! Thank you so much for the reassurance! Are you feeling much better now?

@VapeVamp12 Oh that's so reassuring to know the scans are all looking good! Dont worry, I hated being pregnant last time because I was so anxious, it really took away all the excitement and happy feelings. The actual labour and birth was the best bit! I knew I was in hospital and was safe, baby was being monitored and I had such a focus. I'm actually (weirdly) looking forward to doing that again lol. The newborn stage was hard but not nearly as hard as pregnancy for me and I think had I started medication sooner I'd have coped better, you'll be great!!!

@ClaraLane Thank you! I'm so glad its helping you and it made it your last pregnancy better. I did try Sertraline but it didnt agree with me unfortunately. Good luck ttc #2! I'm in my tww now and its killing me 🤣

Iv been to the Dr this morning and he was great, really reassured me and we have agreed it's best I go back on the Citalopram so I'll be starting it tonight. I'm looking forward to feeling better. Thank you all for your help xx

@AnxiousMuma excited is an understatement....counting down the days

I took 10mg of citalopram all through my pregnancy and I have got a very healthy nearly 10 week old baby sat on me right now.

I decided, along with advice from my midwife, that if I came off them then my mental health would deteriorate and the baby would be affected and that would be no good for either of us.

It's a balance with psych meds. Stable mental health vs risk to pregnancy.

Ssri do have some evidence of contributing to abnormalities but they are safer in comparison to a lot of drugs which have the same purpose.

Did you wean off with help from your GP? What did they suggest you replace it with? Therapy?

It's unusual to take someone off a medication with nothing to fill the gap

@AnxiousMuma I was in your exact situation!

Completely understand your anxiety here. I was on Citalopram but when I told my psychiatrist I was TTC she told me that Sertraline is better for pregnancy because there is a much lower rate of birth defects. It was a hard switch but I am very glad she got me to do this as it gave me peace of mind. This psychiatrist I see is one of the best in the country and has taught at Imperial for 11+ years. I am very fortunate due to my works incredible health insurance I get to see her for my medication instead of my GP.

I am now 9+6 weeks pregnant and everything is going smoothly :)

My advice is to get more than one doctors opinion. I was worried about the exact same thing you are and hearing from a top medical professional put me at such ease.

Hi there, I’m a firm believer in continuing with your meds whilst pregnant. I could go nuts when I didn’t have my meds when I wasn’t pregnant . I take 20mg of citalopram and 50 mg of propranolol 3 times a day, if I was ever late taking my propranolol when I wasn’t pregnant, I would spiral very quickly (3-4days) so I wouldn’t dream of coming off them during pregnancy.
I know for a fact it would be worse for my pregnancy without them
You should do what you think is best for you! But I don’t think you would have written this post if you didn’t really know what was best thing was...( if I’m wrong I apologise)

All the best x

P.S I’m 13 weeks pregnant 😆

Hi ladies,
So pleased to have found this post and that its current! My husband and I are looking to start TTC in the near future and I was dreading the prospect of having to try to come off my 10mg of citalopram as it keeps me nice and balanced! Just wanna say thank you for the reassurance and hope those of you waiting get your BFP soon!

Good luck @Chloemarieh

I came off Citalopram before trying to conceive in June (my mental health tends to be better in the summer months), I'm 11 weeks now and I would have no qualms going back on them if I needed to. It is a very safe medication, I came off it just because of the miniscule increase in defects any safe medication would have on a potential embryo. But if my mental health deteriorated to the point I couldn't cope both my doctor and midwife have advised that it is best to return to the medication.

The best thing is that you are healthy for your baby, absolutley no guilt. Xxx