Citalopram and pregnancy

[JassyB]

Hello ladies,

Just to give you quick history. I started taking citalopram 20mg after having my little one 2 yrs ago. I was talking 20mg for little over a year and then slowly stopped taking it from 20 to 15 then 10 and 5mg. My GP said that I have to be 6 months off antidepressant before staying pregnant again. So I stopped taking them for about 3 and half months and fell into same depression again, sadness, dont want to do anything, very snappy, sleepy, cranky, worry that something bad will happen to my family. Since I had some citalopram left over I started taking it again about a week ago and am feeling better already. I tried so hard to stop taking them so I can have another baby but I can not not to take them.

I am seeing my GP next week but am scared of her thoughts because she was very strong for me to stop taking antidepressants for at least 6 month before TTC.

Anybody here that was in the same situation? What should I do? Was anybody in the similar situation?

I would not mind taking an antidepressants during pregnancy because it is illness as well. Would you make a diabetic stop taking her medication just because she is pregnant?

I really do not want to deal with changing GP because she has different opinion. Should I just ask her to send me to OB to get another opinion?

Thanks a lot.

citalopram are very addictive if you can change to a different antidepressent but don't panic was told was definitely not pregnant with dd1 she was hidden even on scans took these till 7 mths no problem ever also went on fairground rides etc

Recent research suggests you can take Cit while PG and BF. I came off Cit to have DS but I did a lot of research beforehand and discovered I could possibly take it while pg (I preferred not to). My psychologist knew this was the case but my GP was not so up to date and would not prescribe it if I was PG. I cannot find the link that gave me all the info atm - sorry, will keep looking.

I was never told I needed to be off it for 6 months prior to conceiving - I was off it for 3 months before I conceived.

hth

From here

".....A recent research about the effects of Citalopram in pregnancy and lactation by a Finish expert group showed no major problems for the babies. Taking 20 or 40 mg Citalopram there were only very low plasma concentration for the infants and no problems of delivery or any neurodevelopment problems of the babies. So the authors concluded that there is only a very small risk for the babies.

Source : Heikkinen T, Ekblad U, Kero P, Ekblad S, Laine K : Citalopram in pregnancy and lactation. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2002 Aug; 72(2):184-91 "

more here

Neither of these are the papers I read though.

I was taking citalopram when I found out I was expecting my DS. The doctor said it was ok but I should try to wean myself off slowly. Eventually I was taking 5mg a day and then I stopped and this was probably when I was about 3 or 4 months pregnant. I felt fine without the tablets so I did not go back to them.

Your GP has not read the up to date material - or doesn't believe it. Doctors and drug companies dance a very fine line in doing what is best for the patient and covering their arses against being sued because no one can say categorically that there is absolutely NO risk.

There is no evidence that citalopram at the levels you need it will harm a baby during pregnancy or breastfeeding. In rats, only doses of almost 20 x what humans take showed any problems. No human studies have ever shown any harm.

A stressed out mother is, as far as I am aware, at higher risk of preterm labour from anxiety than she is of harming her baby through using anti-depressants ALTHOUGH it is worth seeing if you can be referred for CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) which has had very positive results in treatment of depression/anxiety.

By the way - Citalopram is NOT addictive. There can be withdrawal effects if you stop taking it suddenly, but that is not the same as it being addictive and the two should not be confused.

Hi everyone, I have found all your stories really useful/helpful. I got pregnant whilst on 20mg Citalopram and when found out I was pregnant I came off it straight away. I didn't have all the side effects but pregnancy was hellish. Stayed off the drug so I could breastfeed and at 11 weeks got servere postnatal depression. Had to be put back on it and have been ever since. 4 years later me and my husband want to try aagin. Am so worried about doing it all again. I've started to cut down to 10mg everyday then did 10mg every other day and started to feel awful. Crying, anxious, basically the black dog was back again. Drs keep banging on about CBT but I found that unhelpful last time.
However, to try and reassure you mum's to be - my son was fine even though I had been taking it in my first trimester and was worried sick.

Hi, I conceived, gestated and am currently breastfeeding whilst on 20mg citalopram. I did loads of research and came to the conclusion that an alive mother was more beneficial to the baby than the tiny risk involved with citalopram. THe research suggests that at low doses - under 40mg per day there is little to no risk to the foetus, and it is just as safe to breastfeed on it too.

If i were you i would tell my GP that having researched it for yourself you have decided to continue on your antidepressants and if she will not prescribe them then you want a referral to a consultant (who will be pissed off with the GP by having her time wasted - if she is anything like the consultant i saw!)

Dont fret, have a read of those studies linked to above and assert yourself (not easy when depressed - why is it that we need to be at our most effective and assertive when we are least capable of it!!)

goodluck x

Hi ladies,

I'm so sorry to hear that you are struggeling, i think for gp's to tellyou to come off is easy for them to say it's hard work and horrible.

I'm 15 weeks pregnant have been taking citalopram for anxiet and panic attacks and mild deppression, it had been a wounder drug for me. i have been on them since Nov 09 and concieved on them, both midwife and doctor are happy for me to stay on not a problem at all.

I really hope you would be able to see someone else that can really help.