Sertraline

[Lithgow2000]

Hi everyone
I lost my baby at 15 weeks in October. I've also had other stresses and a spate of bad luck following it. I'm really struggling with my mental health, specifically panic attacks.

I'm seeing a support worker which has been fantastic. But I would like some medication.

The issue is, I'm TTC again. My doctor said she can give me Sertaline but mentioned there are risks I might need to read up on. I think she mentioned an increased chance of autism on some studies etc. I have looked on BUMPS but still would like some real life feedback.

Did anyone take this particular antidepressant all the way through pregnancy. Did you have any issues or did your doctor/ midwife have any concerns? Thanks in advance.

Sertraline is the safest antidepressant they can use during pregnancy. There is limited research available as it is obviously difficult to do research on pregnant women (!). But from the information available, Sertraline would be your best option.
I work in mental health.

Hi @Lithgow2000

So sorry to hear about your loss and the difficult time you're having. Just wanted to say I was on sertraline from about 16 weeks when pregnant with my son all the way through until he was about 6 months old. I was under the perinatal mental health team whilst I was pregnant and they were incredibly supportive. All was fine and I now have a very happy and healthy 2.5 year old. I'm currently nearly 6 weeks pregnant with my second, and would have no hesitation on going back on medication if my mental health dips during pregnancy.

Look after yourself 💕

Thanks for your response x

Thanks for your response. This is very helpful x

Im so sorry for what you have went through . I was told by my doctor to stop taking sertraline as it can affect the heart and weight of the baby

I was on the max dose of sertraline throughout - as advised by my midwife, perinatal psychiatrist and obstetric consultant. No issues with pregnancy or baby.

I'm sorry for your loss

Hi OP. I'm currently taking sertraline for panic disorder. I'm 13 weeks and just had my first scan. Everything is going fine and my midwife said its the best thing to be on during pregnancy. Good luck x

That's strange. Was that recently? The BUMPS website said recent studies didn't find a risk to the heart. I understand about the low birth weight but don't intent to stay on them throughout x

I took a low dose of sertraline all through my pregnancies with DD1 and DD2. I'm now pregnant with DD3 and still taking it. I was told the risks and they always kept a note of it. I was also kept in for monitoring for 12 hours after giving birth both times, because of the sertraline. The doctor explained to me that the risks of the medication to your baby are lower than the risks having poor mental health during/after pregnancy.

Good luck!

I lost my baby last year at 23+5 and am currently 32 weeks pregnant with my rainbow baby. I’ve been on Quetiapine and sertraline for a long time prior to pregnancy (mainly for BPD and anxiety but now have PTSD from my loss too) and so far so good and my loss wasn’t related to sertraline; it was very unexpected and out of anyone’s control. I believe actually sertraline is one of the safest ones to be on. The main thing is that you are stable and mentally well that’s what’s best for both you and baby. There is light at the end of the tunnel 🫶🏻

Hey lovely I’m so sorry for your loss 💔

@Shrillwaffle this is pretty much me also. I’ve been taking a high dose of Quetiapine and sertraline for years. Spoke to my GP and he said there is not much evidence to suggest it is detrimental to the baby.
I have tried in the past to not take meds and my mental health has suffered so it is much safer to stay on the meds.
there is limited research and if it was at all dangerous the doctors and midwives would absolutely tell you.
it’s better to be mentally healthy

@Prettyinred thankyou 🫶🏻 it’s been bloody hard but it’s why they want to make sure you’re well. They were adamant about increasing my quetiapine because my mental health was going back to what I was like pre meds which I agree with and I don’t like to up my disease lightly. Being mentally well and stable is the most important things and yeah sertraline and quetiapine are safe to take during pregnancy ☺️

I’m 10+4 and have been taking sertraline throughout this pregnancy. I’ve had two scans so far and all looks as it should.

I didn’t take medication in my previous two pregnancies and both of my children from those pregnancies are autistic. I don’t personally think it’s a causal link. I’d imagine expectant mothers taking sertraline would be more likely to be neurodivergent than those not on medication (anxiety and depression are very common for autistic adults particularly undiagnosed women) so it would make sense to me that there would be more autistic children born to mothers taking antidepressants.

My understanding is Sertraline is the safest SSRI in pregnancy.

My psychiatrist wanted to swap me from escitalopram to sertraline as she said it was safer and also safer in breast feeding. In the end I chose to come off escitalopram around 28 weeks rather than start a new one. Im still on Quetiapine though.

There was apparently a small risk of heart defects being on escitalopram but at 20 week scan all looked fine.

If you want to try medication then do it, your mental health is so so so important. I had panic attacks and being on medication definitely helped reduce them. And if you’re generally less anxious you’ll likely conceive quicker too as I think being more relaxed helps with conception.