Citalopram

[Laurablky]

Hello newbie here i am 22 weeks pregnant with my first baby, I have been on antidepressants for many years but came off my citalopram when I was about 11 weeks pregnant and thought I was doing ok until the past couple of weeks I have been crying all the time being irrational with my bf and having really bad anxiety after speaking with my gp today she suggested I start taking them again which I have agreed to but feel bad and am worried about effects on the baby. Anybody had this before ?

I'm 9 weeks pregnant and on a low dose of citalopram. I've been on it for nearly two decades and every doctor/clinician I've mentioned it to has said to stay on it during my pregnancy and afterwards.

From what I understand they often think the very tiny risk of potential problems to the baby isn't as great a risk as Mum's depression/anxiety getting worse (due to the hormonal changes of pregnancy and then the challenges of a newborn).

I was really concerned about the risks to baby, even though when I searched the studies done for citalopram they do seem very small. But then I also read another study that suggests that there is also a risk that depression/anxiety isn't great for baby either (I'm not science minded but I'd guess it could be because of the physical effects of anxiety and depression like lower serotonin or increased cortisol in Mum's body). So I think unfortunately we can't win and I decided to take the Doctors advice .

Not exactly the same but I've been taking Lexapro (escitalopram) for 8 years. I've come to the conclusion that I can maintain a low dose but any time I have tried to come off it completely I've had a bad MH relapse within 6 months.
During my previous pregnancy I stayed on the low dose and DS was born with no issues at all. My main concern was that if I came off the meds I would be much more susceptible to PND and it would be more difficult to start taking it again from zero than to increase my doseage.
I'm currently 24 weeks pregnant and have taken the same approach. The risks to baby are small compared to the risks to you and baby if you begin to have MH issues during/after pregnancy.

I was told I could stay on my citropram until around 30weeks x

I stayed on citalopram throughout my whole pregnancy and while breastfeeding, 30mg a day.

No advice but im in the exact same position as you! I stopped taking my Citalopram when i found out i was pregnant but im really struggling off them. Midwife has recommended i go back on them so i think that's what im going to do x

I went back on it at a low dose and it's the best thing I did I feel so so much better, I wish I had done it sooner x