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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

pregnancy and anti depressants

14 replies

tori1973 · 20/11/2009 16:18

Hi
I have diagnosed with clinical depression. Have had 2 miscarriages in the last 5 months and stopped taking my medication for both pregnancies but and now back on them again. We are going to try for a baby again next month and the idea of not taking my anti depressants is filling me with dread. Has anyone carried on taking their medication through out their pregnancy??

OP posts:
tinylion · 20/11/2009 16:24

yes, 40mg of citalopram throughout my last pregnancy and now have a beautiful dd. Taking the same through this pregnancy - not worried about it atall...don't worry. Taken the antidepressants (safe ones for pregnant women are citalopram but not seroxat) and look after yourself...

lucy101 · 20/11/2009 16:39

I have managed not to take mine during the pregnancy but just knowing I can if I have a bad patch is very important. I think most good GP's will help you weigh up the pros and cons and look at the most suitable drugs... as getting very depressed during the pregnancy and then risking very bad PND is very bad news.

By the way, I found this book very helpful, especially in terms of protecting yourself as best you can once the baby is born.

Women's Moods: What Every Woman Must Know About Hormones, the Brain, and Emotional Health
by Deborah Sichel and Jeanne Watson Driscoll

www.amazon.co.uk/Womens-Moods-Hormones-Emotional-Health/dp/0380728524/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid =1258735000&sr=1-2

You have had a very tough time so it is no surprise that you are low. I had a very difficult period around the time I got pregnant and for the whole of the first trimester and my GP was worried and keen to sign me off, but actually my depression has lifted as circumstances have changed... and I am feeling really positive right now. Fingers crossed that will happen to you too!

pinkypig · 20/11/2009 19:44

Yes I have during my second, and am now during my 3rd pregnanay (chlomipramine). I made this tough decision after much research and discussion with my psychiatrist.

My second son was born fine, no issues. There are options open to you if you need them. Have a good talk with your psychiatrist.

Good Luck!
pp

weegiemum · 20/11/2009 19:46

I took either 150 or 200 mg of Sertaraline through my last 2 pregnancies.

Ds is 7, dd2 is 5.

No bother, I am glad I took the ADs as I coped so much better with the pregancy, I had horrible ante-natal and postnatal depression.

hw7342 · 20/11/2009 19:53

Have been on Venlafaxine for 10 years (on a reducing small dose now) and when i found out i was unexpectedly pregnant coming off wasn't an option due to risks to mental health. The docs said it is prescribed in pregnancy when really needed. Maybe you should ask about your particular anti-depressant if you haven't already. If it's a not so good one they might want to switch it to a safer one that more studies have been carried out on? I am 35 + 2 and my baby has been fine in scans.

jumblequeen · 20/11/2009 22:25

I echo what has already been said. I've been on ADs for my whole adult life so coming off really wasn't an option for me. What your doctor will probably do is prescribe something that he/she considers to be the least threat to your baby.
Don't beat yourself up - your health is important too (especially if you're going to have a little person to look after!)

Original poster
tori1973 · 26/11/2009 21:23

Thank you to all for your positive stories. I have had another day of twoing and frowing with my psychiatrist. I have almost done too much research and now my head is swimming with info. I am on fluoxitine which is the safest one to be on when you are pregnant. I feel like i am being selfish if I continue to take them but dont know how I am going to cope if I dont. HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OP posts:
PacificDogwood · 26/11/2009 21:30

tori, you are not being selfing by taking your AD, you are ensuring that you are in the best possibel health for a planned pregnancy which is the resoponsible thing to do for any mother-to-be . Well done for doing your research before you are actually pregnant.
Fluoxetine is considered the safest AD in pregnancy simply because it has been around the longest and is the best researched one. It also reasonable longacting (long halflife) which means baby won't have much in the way of withdrawal when the time comes.

Do not do what my SIL did, get better on ADs, TTC, become pregnant, go in a panic and stop them very suddenly: she became v ill and has still not fully recovered, my niece is now over 2 .

PacificDogwood · 26/11/2009 21:31

selfish, gah, sorry

YanknCock · 26/11/2009 21:34

The thing is, you are not being selfish at all. You are just doing what is necessary for you to be well and able to cope with your depression--and in turn that will put you in the best state of mind to care for your baby (congratulations btw!).

I have recurrent major depression and have been on ADs most of my adult life as well. I thought I needed to come off for pregnancy, and the particular AD I was taking (venlafaxine) was not one of the safer ones. So when I got pregnant the first time, I cut down. Then I miscarried at 7 weeks, but continued to cut down and quit as I wanted to not be on them if I got pregnant again. That was a big mistake for me. I did get pregnant again, but had a very bad episode of depression during the 1st/2nd trimesters.

Fortunately I got help, though the fluoxetine did nothing for me, and neither did 10mg of Citalopram. Finally after two months I got on 20mg of Citalopram and I started to feel loads better. I am still taking it and am breastfeeding a very happy and healthy 3 month old DS.

Please don't feel guilty or selfish. It will not help your child any to not have you at your best.

PacificDogwood · 26/11/2009 21:37

Sorry, I forgot, I am very sorry for your losses . You do know that your MCs had nothing to do with taking ADs, don't you? Do not not take them because you are worried about that.
Just wanted to say that.

ahedgehogisdueinMarch · 26/11/2009 21:37

I took venlafaxine 75mg twice a day during my first preg with DS1 who is now 17 months and went on to BF him until he stopped 4 weeks ago as I am now 26 weeks with DC2 and am taking 37.5mg of venlafaxine.

My psych and GP tried to get me to change to something else for BF but I have taken so many different ones that have made me worse/sick/sleepy that it really wasn't an option.

YanknCock · 27/11/2009 20:53

You're lucky, hedgehog...I desperately wanted them to give me venlafaxine again, but since I'd come off it and was pregnant they wouldn't prescribe it. Had to faff around two months before I got a drug/dosage that worked as well. I feel lucky citalopram seems to work for me, as some of the other ADs don't.

Ladyemmalou83 · 27/11/2009 21:54

Reading the original posters post was like reading my own life 3 months ago. Sorry to hear of your losses, I know of your heartache. I have had 2Mc within a 3month period and had not taken my ADs in the process, but I made the decision this time to carry on taking them, and Im now 11 weeks pg. My GP changed me to Citlopram from Fluxatine, as he said it is the best researched in PG.

GP explained to me, even last week when I went in to talk again to him about it, that it is ok to take them, and if it means mums mental health is better, then it is far better for baby.

I agree with what the girlies have said in their responces to you so far. It is ok, dont feel you shouldnt take them. Good luck in TTC, I hope you get the positive result we all dream of x

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