Mental health and pregnancy - switching citalopram for sertraline

[fibeee]

Hi everyone. Would like to hear the experiences of anyone who switched from citalopram to sertraline. I have been on citalopram for several years but reduced my dose when I found out I was pregnant and came off completely at 12 weeks.

I’m about to have my baby now but the strain of pregnancy combined with other stresses and anxiety has taken a toll. I’m open to going back on medication for awhile and my GP suggested I that I try sertraline as it’s safer for breastfeeding.

Would like to hear what others have experienced in similar circumstances. Thank you.

Hmm no experience of this, but my psychiatrist is changing me from venlafaxine TO citalopram as apparently its one of the safest lol. Guess noone really knows.

I’m only in the first trimester, but have also been told that citalopram is safer. But I would take the advice of your GP and midwifes. Good luck.

we were told sertraline was safer too so stayed on it without issues

I stayed on sertraline throughout my pregnancy and everything went fine although I did not breastfeed.

I have been doing a lot of research about it recently as I am 6 weeks pregnant and usually take a very high dose of duloxetine which I stopped suddenly when I had a positive test.

There just isn't enough research to say it is or isn't safe to use any SSRIs during pregnancy because the drug manufacturers will never test on pregnant women. Studies look at how many women miscarry or have other problems in a given cohort but there's never a cause and effect relationship established.

Citalopram and sertraline are most often prescribed when pregnant. My best friend is a midwife and says she has never met or heard of another midwife who will advise against either of those two medications if it is needed. GPs are often more cautious because it is not something they deal with every day.

I say: take it if you feel you need it 😃

In my last pregnancy I stopped taking citalopram but when baby was 3 months (after various issues) GP suggested I go back onto antidepressants. She prescribed Sertraline as said safer in BF but I unfortunately had a very bad reaction and after sticking with it way too long to try and ride out the initial side effects I switched to something else. This is just my experience but it sounds like the advice is that citalopram is ok to be taking in which case it may be better to stick with what you know suits you.

I’ve not been on anything since being pregnant so couldn’t comment on which is safer but I have switched to Sertraline in the past and found it worked far better for me. No side effects and it was the only thing that helped me feel more “normal”.