Sertaline and pregnancy

[Jo12345678]

Hello, I am 8 weeks pregnant with my third child. I have been on Seryaline 50mg tablets for the last 6 months to help treat my depression and anxiety. The medication has really improved my mental health and when I don’t take the medication (if I run out etc) I really feel a difference. It effects me mentally as I feel down but also I feel severely sick, dizzy and anxious. Anyway...

I have spoke to the doctor as to whether or not I should continue the medication. The doctor has advised that it can increase issues with the babies heart. It’s not guaranteed and There’s no reason why baby can’t be healthy however it does slightly increase the risk. It also increases the risk of baby having a high blood pressure when born. The doctor advised that he has a 50/50 split of pregnant patients who continue the medication to those who stop.

I’m really not sure what to do.
One part of me thinks how could I ever put my unborn baby at risk and the other half says it is still important however that my mental health doesn’t incline for my two young boys I have already and myself.

Anyone taken Sertaline throughout pregnancy or stopped. Any advice?

Hi, I was on 100mg sertraline throughout my last pregnancy and baby is fine. I did see a consultant about it, referred by my midwife, and they really helped to put my mind at rest. Sertraline is one of the safest ADs to take during pregnancy they reassured me.

Like everything there is a risk but it's small. They said the risk to my mental health (I.e it deteriorating) outweighed the risk to baby and they didn't recommend that I come off it. Everyone is different though so if you're worried ask your midwife if you can speak to someone about it.

Hello,
Thank you very much for your reply.
I see my midwife tomorrow so maybe she can help or refer me like yourself.
To be fair I was thinking about staying on them for the sake of my mental health.
You have made me feel at ease, thank you

Hey! I am on 50mg of Sertraline a day and I am 25 weeks pregnant and have been reassured that it is fine! I was on a different AD previously and came off it when I found out I was pregnant. I then found that my mental health suffered and anxiety returned etc. I spoke to my GP and they reassured me they would much rather I was on something as the benefits outweighed the risk etc. They moved me onto Sertraline rather than Citalopram as said it is commonly taken in pregnancy and is safe to take it throughout. Have a chat with your midwife but I'm sure they'll reassure you.

Hi, I take 50mg sertraline too. My GP advised that if I became pregnant whilst on it the current advice is to continue to take it because there is a greater risk to my mental health than the baby if I were to stop taking it.
I'm 30 weeks now and other than some complications I have been assured are not due to sertraline everything has been fine.

50mg is a relatively low level prescription, but it is a personal decision.