citalopram and early pregnancy

[iamamartian]

i am on 20mg of citalopram and 6 weeks pregnant, gp said it was fine to take it in pregnancy. in the last few days i have been feeling panicky and anxious again, hadn't felt like this for months and months, what a bummer. should i increase the dosage? have been on 20mg for about 10 months...

Hi again

AlexxJ after discussing with my doc the tablets in pregnancy he said he was a very minimal risk to the baby to be on fluoxetine or citalopram, if you feel bad off them i personally would go back on them and stay on them, i know how debilitating it can be

In my opinion and searching on many websites the preg hormones can affect the anxiety not replace the AD's!!!

Im back off to the docs today as i have swapped from citalopram to fluoxetine as the doc says its very slightly safer (i think this is due to it being around longer and more studys being done on it) I may even ask if we can increase the dose as i started to feel better but have had my anxiety almost full on for the past 2 days

Hi everyone,

That is strange,i fell pregnant in feb and was told to come off tablets straight away by some doctor i have never seen before!!! so i did and i miscarried ..

then went straight back on them fell pregnant again spoke to my doctor who said stay on them no probs and i am 19 weeks pregnant now, my midwife has no poroblems me being on them at all..she said alot of woman are on them and not to worry.

hope that helps

xx

Hi everyone

Does anyone have any experience of pregnancy and Xanax. I was taking Citalopram but switched to Xanax which I find better for me. I am hoping to get pregnant but am worried about taking Xanax.

Thanks

hi everyone,
this is such a great website, reading all of these messages makes me feel like i'm not alone and there is so many people that can help.

I have just come back on citalopram 20mg and have been taking the meds for nearly 2 months now.
My partner and I are wanting to have another child and I am a bit nervous to be pregnant and on the meds.

I was just wondering if anyone could maybe tell me how it affects you whilst pregnant and if there is any chance of it getting worse after giving birth?

thanks everyone.

I'm 12 weeks pregnant and have been given cialopram again now, I came of at 7 weeks and just haven't been able to cope since. I feel like I'm never going to feel better again. Citalopram has always worked for me before so is there any chance it won't work because I'm pregnant.?

I'm desperate to feel better again.

X

Hi Gang, Now here's a dilema. I was on 40 mgs of citalopram and I feel terrible now because as the sunshine started to come out and the depression I was suffering eased off we tried to get pregnant and conceived. I went to the doctor as soon as we found out which was 2 weeks into the pregnancy and he said to reduce the medication slowly and then get me off it as people just shouldn't be on medication whilst pregnant, which I see the logic in as we don't know the long term effects. I was over the moon about our baby but we had a terrible missed miscarriage at 10 weeks.
I swapped doctors and he said Citalopram is far from ideal for pregnancy and now I feel like my trying for a baby on citalopram was very dangerous to our child. I also have aconundrum as I am suffering intense weepyness now and yet want to become pregnant again hopwfully next year so want to get out of the metaphorical storm and more balanced for trying for another baby. Any advice? Also I wonder if being depressed and this is about myself not you lovely ladies and I do not wish to offend any other sufferes or having a propensity to get depression means I shouldn't be trying for a baby full stop until I have far more balance in my life medication free.

Hi
I have suffered depression for years and always put baby on hold there seems no support for mums who suffer with depression. The HV was useless and I had a bad response from Homestart. I came off all my medication when I fell pregnant and gave up smoking. I had really bad postnatal depression but refussed medication once i had had the baby i said it was normal as i was hormonal. I am trying for baby number two i am still a suffer but on anti depressants.
I want to come off them and then make sure i go back on them as soon as baby is born. My GP said a small dose would be fine but I could not live with myself if anything happens.
I dont think you can hold back from having a baby if you are a suffer as I did and regret it as if i waited and waited I would never have a baby. I wish I had more support and less pressure from financial creditors etc.
If I had listened to my heart i would have the large family i so despratly wanted but i am too old now to have more than 1 more.
I dont want to go through the darkness again but my son is my sunshine and thats all worth it x

Hi,

Im sitting here in tears & i just dont know what to do. Me & dh have just started ttc as i dont want to leave it much longer as im nearly 34 but am currently on citalapram (20mg for nearly four yrs, just increased to 30mg). I suffer with panic disorder & anxiety and have just started to see a cbt therapist but im scared to get pregnant as i dont know what the pregnancy will do to my mind & i dont think i can come off my ad's & then i dont know what will happen to me after birth, and what about if i cant handle to day to day responsibilities of being a mum...? Or if i get pnd...? I feel so scared & sad cus i just want to be a normal girl with a normal life but i feel like ill never b better :(

Wow this thread is such a comfort to me, I'm 25 weeks with my 3rd baby. After number 2 I was diagnosed with PND (but mainly presenting as having panic attacks), was given Sertraline which was on for 7 months, the switched to fluoxitine (prozac) both these had horrendous side effects for me, the anxiety and panic got so much worse (more so with the prozac) and then I just felt dead inside for a really long time, I eventually weaned myself off them and have been well for over a year.

However, last week I had a couple of panic attacks which were pretty scary and worried me in terms of how I'll be this time round once baby comes. I like some of you have been told I can't take citralipram in pregnancy but can in breastfeeding if I needed to! - There does seem to be hugely conflicting advice, but its good to know that many of you have been on C whilst pg - to be honest I feel like this is my next option if things get really bad as I know its used for anxiety and panic successfully!

Sorry no point to that really just musing!

Hi all, I'm not pregnant but am trying. I'm on 30mg of citalopram and suffer from anx/dep. Have had panic attacks in past and am v anxious about childbirth. However my GP says it is safe to be on citalopram during pregnancy. I also feel v anxious about the effects pregnancy will have on my moods/ anx/ dep as I have been keeping really well recently. I really feel for you Mrs Bako. I know what it feels like to just want to feel normal, but if you scroll up through all the other posts it helps you realise the number of other people out there who suffer from anx/dep. We are not alone. I really think that if you have a supportive partner and regular communication with your GP and cbt therapist and stay on the citalopram, you will cope well. I've had cbt and it's v helpful. Instead of worrying about all the things that might go wrong and 'what ifs' start focussing on the good things, deal with one problem at a time and be determined you are going to find a way to beat this. All the best xx

Hi,
I am currently around 9 weeks pregnant and am suffering from antenatal depression.
I have previously suffered from PND after having my ds (now 2) which was treated successfully with Fluoxetine.
I was put back on Fluoxetine at 6 weeks pregnant due to feeling depressed and not sleeping. However, over the 3 weeks that I took them I seemed to get worse (started having suicidal thoughts which absolutely terrifed me).
Went back to docs 2 days ago and he told me to stop taking the Fluoxetine, wait for 3 days and then start to take Citralopram instead.
I haven't taken a Fluoxetine for 2 days now and already starting to feel slightly better (although certainly still not OK).
However I am worried that the Citralopram wil have the same effect as the Fluoxetine and make me worse!
Has anyone else successfully used Citralopram when Fluoxetine hasn't worked?
Incidentally I am not concerned about taking anti-d's while pregnant as my doc has assured me that my mental health is the most important thing.
Any input advice would be greatly appreciated x

hi i have just founf out im five weeks pregnant and i am on citalopram i went to my doctor who told me to reduce them from 40mg to 20mg and to take them for two days then have a days break i dont feel too bad at the moment reading comments on here has put my mind at ease a lot about taking them as i dont think i could cope without them all the time

I was on 20mg citalopram for anxiety and panic attacks for years. I was advised there is not research to how safe it is so decided to stop at 8 weeks. I cut down to 1 pill every 2 days for a week then stopped completely. It wasn't easy I was very sick and psychologically it was a nightmare for 3 weeks but I persevered and the side effects stopped. I do occasionally get the odd anxious thought but I'm glad I did it. Once I've stopped breast feeding if I do find myself struggling I would go on it again. This was a personal decision and if I had thought I wasn't ready I would have stayed on it while pregnant as I know how awful the struggle is with panic and anxiety- the question is whether you feel you ready to come off like I did!

Hi, I'm new to this site and new to pregnancy. My doctor said it was best to ween myself off the 40mg citalopram because it has not been extensively tested enough on pregnant women although he did also say that if I really can't cope, he can put me back on it.

What's worrying me though is that he said I need to be referred for a mental health assessment because I have been on anti-depressants for quite a long time. Is this standard practice? Has anybody else had to go for this assessment?

Thanks in advance for responses... I'm a bit worried.

Hi,just need a bit of advice I am currently 17 weeks pregnant and have been trying to cope with feeling down,tearful and having an inability to sleep at night since prob week 6.This is my second pregnancy,after my son was born I suffered from PND and I feel as though all the symptoms are returning.I have been off work since Xmas time and feel unable to reurn which adds a financial stress as dont get full sick pay .I have been to two GPs one recommended Sertraline other disagreed and suggested Citalopram I have decided not to take anything but I am now at stage where I feel I cannot cope and feel so guilty as I am not enjoying this pregnancy.Wonder wether I should start taking something to help me instead of causing harm to baby by me being so depressed.:(

I am also concerned about being on citalipram, I've been on it for nearly a year and currently at 40mg, not pregnant yet (well I might be...) but I am really worried about the effect it may have on my baby.

Interesting to see such different views from GP's, personally I don't like taking any meds normally let alone while pregnant but as others have said are you better off taking the med and being healthy or coming off for the baby and being a mess? I always intended to be off them before pregnancy but what if I then go backwards and feel awful again?

Hi everyone, i havent reas the wholw thread, but i have just had my little girl and i took citalopram throught out conception and pregnancy, baby is fine, my midwifes, doctors never had a prob with me taking it.

Hi all, i have been on 10mg of citalopram for 4 months for 'situation depression'(still not sorted)
found out i was pregnant on tuesday so went to see the gp to find out if i should still be takin the tabs but my doc is on holiday so had to see a different doc. he told me i had to stop taking them immediately. now im feeling pretty low and suffering constant palpitations and panic attacks, dizzy spells and feel sick. why have i been told t come off them straight away when so many of you have been advised they are safe when pregnant?
also how long do these withdrawal symptoms last?

I have been taking 20-40mg of Citalopram for 3 years for depression and OCD. I am 14 weeks pregnant and the GP told me that there is a slight risk of cardiac defects during the first six weeks. However, he felt there was minimal risk after that. The hospital have me flagged as a vulnerable patient and I have had lots of extra mental health support, extra appointments, and an extra scan to check for any heart problems. They have also referred me to the psychiatrist to make sure doses are correct. I think they were also a bit surprised this hadn't been done before. I am glad I chose to stay on it as I think my mental health would have been more of a risk to me and the baby (washing the same plate for 2 hours just doesn't do anyone any good!).
A friend of mine, not a health professional, told me that one of the reasons for confusion is that they are unable to do double blind studies on pregnant women and hence they have plenty of hearsay evidence about its effects, but will advise against taking it as risks not proven in the clinical sense (hence avoiding lawsuits). No idea if this is true but may be food for thought.

Actually, would also like to add that even before I was pregnant I found that some doctors seem to hate antidepressants and just want you to come off them whatever. I once went cold turkey and when I went to a new doctor and told him he just said 'Good'. Never asked me how I was feeling - terrible, tearful, angry, deeply depressed - or even referred to the commonly held belief that you should wean off antidepressents slowly. Back to my original doctor (even if I had to wait to see him) and a good telling off for going cold turkey!! He said 'If you want to come off them, fine, but don't do it without my help'. That is proper mental health care in my opinion!

Hi all. How reassuring that it's not just me who suffers from anxiety and low mood. Have 2 lovely children but would dearly like a third. Been on 10mg Citalopram for almost a year for anxiety and panic attacks. Tried once to wean off but had terrible side effects and decided for my and my family's stability to go back on them. Can't decide whether to TTC whilst on the 10mg or again try and wean off. Terrified of the anxiety and black mood returning. Any advice appreciated. Only began to suffer this after my first very traumatic birth. Managed without AD's for years but last year I began once again to suffer. I am very stable now, working as a teacher and happy. Never thought this could happen to a previously outgoing person who had never felt depressed/anxious before.

I am on 40 mg and my doc has said it is safe. I have been taking it for 7 years now since the birth of my son. I had bad post natal depression. I have tried once to wean off it but I end up back to square one so I have had to get used to the idea of being on it forever. I am currently trying for my third child and intend to stay on it. My doctor is very supportive and says it is safe. Good luck x

Hi ladies. Whatever you decide to do please do not just stop taking citalopram as it does more harm than good. If you really need to stop or want to reduce your dose then do so with the help and guidance of a good gp. Make a plan and work through it. The come down symptoms are horrendous so it must be done gradually. However weigh up the pros and cons. To come off it will probably take at least 6-8 weeks if done properly. Hope his helps x

My doctor shifted me from Sertraline to Citalopram because its safe in pregnancy but i just feel really anxious and shaky, crying at everything. Im between 10-11 weeks
Id say stick with them, and hopefully once your hormones balance out you'll feel better

xkatyx did u suffer pnd after your first 2?? i did after my first and now i am preg with my second and on 30mg of citalopram and terrified of getting it a second time. i stopped my meds wen i found out i was preg at 7 weeks but got so depressed i went back on at about 12 weeks. now im 26 weeks and feel fine but so scared i will get depressed again after delivery even tho im on citalopram. did u get depressed after this delivery or have any of u ladies been in the same situation as me and been on anti ds the whole pregnancy and it prevented u from getting pnd the second time around?? im petrified

thanks xx