Fluoxatine

[ToysRus56]

Hello

I am currently on 20mg of fluoxatine and almost 10 weeks pregnant. I am considering increasing to 40 because I don't feel 100% myself. Interested to know from others who have been on fluoxatine while pregnant as I'm a bit nervous about it. Sertraline which I know is more commonly prescribed doesn't do anything for me sadly.

I thought fluoxetine wasn’t to be taken in pregnancy? I was on it and my GP told me to stop taking them immediately when I found out I was pregnant. Wasn’t allowed to take them when breastfeeding either.

@TwisterSpice makes me so angry when I hear stuff like this. Your Dr was misinformed!

www.medicinesinpregnancy.org
Fluoxetine

My daughter was on 40mg as the risks of not being on it far outweighed the potential risks. Do what you need to xxx

Thank you. I so so wish I didn't need to :( got a gp apt on Friday

Any effects for your daughters little one @MatriarchCaz?

I took fluoxetine in my first pregnancy, no issues with the baby at all and no extra blood loss after delivery. Baby didn't need any extra monitoring. I am on it still and 30 weeks pregnant with my second. The mental health team have always said to me that ssri's like fluoxetine carry very very minor risks and the benefit of being on them far outweighs those. Do what you need to do for your health. They can monitor baby after birth if needed but if your mental health nose dives it could affect the entire rest of your pregnancy and post partum period. Good luck xx

@SKLM thanks so much xxx what dose are you on? I'm counting down the days until my GP appointment. Really just need to go up a dose, I'm struggling so much which is very frustrating xx

Fluoxetine absolutely fine. Sertraline has marginally more evidence of safety but fluoxetine extensively used and very well tolerated by mum and baby. Definitely increase if you need to. If you are struggling, you can ask your GP or midwife for a referral to the perinatal team.

@ToysRus56 I was taking between 20 and 40. To echo the previous poster have you been referred to the perinatal mental health team? They were so helpful to me, able to give lots of reassuring advice about medications in pregnancy xx

Thank you @SKLM. As of yesterday I got referred. It's just so odd - I've wanted to be pregnant for years. Was/ am completely delighted, and yet I feel so 'struggling to get out of bed in the morning' low. It's maddening. I've always had up and down mental health, and I'm sure hormones must be at play here too - but you know when you think your brain is better than this. I keep willing myself to snap out of it! And I can momentarily if I'm really focusing on something as opposed to ruminating, but it's impossible to maintain. I feel bad for my husband too, it must be very confusing

@ToysRus56 I found my mood dipped in early pregnancy with my first. I felt exhausted with the surges in hormones too, I was asleep by 8pm every night, and other pregnancy symptoms like nausea had an impact. I don't think anything can prepare you for how pregnancy feels and it impacts everyone differently. I think a lot of women find early pregnancy quite a depressing time even if they really want the baby, because it is such a big change and the early pregnancy symptoms can be really troublesome. It's really good you have been referred to PNMH as they will be able to unpick the situation with you and review your medication. I think though that I was depressed for longer than I needed to be in my first pregnancy however as I wrote a lot of my feelings down to pregnancy and hormones rather than thinking of my underlying mood problem. Hard to be balanced about it isn't it xx