Anti-Depressants and Pregnancy

[rynosmum]

I met a lovely new member on LiveChat today who has a 13 month old DD and is 3 months pregnant with another little bubba.

She is on Anti-Depressants from PND and her GP has advised that she needs to be weaned off the medication 2-3 months before the new bubba is born to ensure that he/she doesn't become dependant. The concern is what happens to her without the medication ?

I offered to post in the hope that ladies who have been through the same thing can offer some advice. Namely, two things:

1. Who would be an appropriate specialist for her to see who could help her thought this time, both with advice and recommendations ?
2. Have you been in this situation and if so, how did you cope ?

I will let her know that the thread is here in case she wishes to add anything.

Thanks everyone !

[2 Cherubs]

Hi there...I am on anti depressants for anxiety/panic attacks, I aslo was worried about being on them while pregnant. I asked my Dr about it and he said it was fine and prob be worse of for me and bub to wean of them while pregnant....He aslo said that they dont cause any deformations which I was rather relieved to hear...As my bub was my main priorty I didnt want to be taking anything they could cause any harm or side affects.....
I suggest this lady should go and see another Dr and get another opionin....
Ohhh and also my bub didnt have any signs of withdrawl...

All the best and I wish her good Luck.....

[Loving_mumma]

hELLO...i'M THE LADY AND MY DEAR FRIEND HAS SO KINDLY POSTED THIS THREAD FOR ME, AS I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO DO IT...AND WAS A LITTLE SCARED TOO...
MUM2JAMES wHAT WERE YOU ON AND AT WHAT STRENGTH?

[2 Cherubs]

I am on Zoloft and a daily dose of 100mg....what about you?

[misskittyfantastico]

I was (and still am) on 30mgs a day of Aropax for my depression. Like M2J I was advised to continue on my medication.

I'd look for a second opinion.

Good Luck with your pregnancy!

[Little_Toad]

Loving_mumma, don't be too scared of coming off your anti d's if that is what your doctor recommended.

I was on anti d's for about 18 months due to an ilness i had. When I came off them I was surprised how mormal I felt and didn't feel like needing resume taking them at all.

I saw anti d's as a way of trainng your mind to handle situations better, rather than them just altering your emotions artificially. You may be surprised as to how well you feel without them.

[Tam-I-Am]

If you're worried about the effects of medication on a pregnancy, it would probably be advisable to get a referral to both an obstetrician and a psychiatrist - psychitrists are really the experts on medication for mental health issues, and obstetricians will know best how to cope with them during a pregnancy.

BTW most antidepressants are NOT habit forming (ie non-addictive), and there are several that can be taken safely while breastfeeding. I'm unsure why your GP feels your baby would be addicted to the medication - its not something that I've heard of with reference to antidepressants (I've worked in public psychiatry for 3 years). I would definately at least get a second opinion - try to find a GP who has a special interst in mental health issues. You can call clinics (anonnomously if you wish) to ask if there are any with such a special interest.

Good luck to you, and if you chose - there's a great section further down on the main page about getting support for other with regards to depression and postnatal depression.

[misskittyfantastico]

I see it more like....I have high BP - I take medication. I suffer from depression - I take medication. No one would ever dream of weaning me off my BP meds:rolleyes:

[Tam-I-Am]

I see it more like....I have high BP - I take medication. I suffer from depression - I take medication. No one would ever dream of weaning me off my BP meds:rolleyes:

And that's an excellant way of looking at it! That's exactly how I see it too.

[justtwogirls22]

hi
i was on zoloft for depression months before falling pg - when i was pg at 20 weeks i was put on cipromil for panic attacks - my dr researched anti depressants in pregnancy & found cipromil to be the safest & i continued it for the rest of my pregnancy & even while breastfeeding till i was weaned off it & it had no effect on my DD
forgot to say my dr didnt put me back on zoloft cause he said cipromil was alot safer

[moggs]

Hi all,

I am confused what to do with my medication! First preg i was first told paroxtine (aropax) was not safe and suffered badly. I put myself back on them a month before birth after being told by another doctor it was fine (?)!!

With this pregnancy my doctor has advised me to be weaned off them. I don't know I have followed what she said and don't know if my moods are just due to hormones. She said that the problem with these types of anti-dep are that because they are relatively new, no-one really knows the side-effects. There is a slight chance of cogential heart disease which I looked up before going to her. So I just wanna get thru first three months and see how I go because most development happens in first trimester. I do agree with former thread that if you had high b/p then no-one would expect you to come of meds associated with it.

She is quite flexible and has said that if there are any major problems, then I can go back on them so it is a see how it goes thing.


Moggs xx

[Loving_mumma]

I'm on 37.5mg of efexor ex...How ever it's spelt...Well it's all good to say go to another doctor or get a second opinion but i know of no one at all to go to or where to go for that matter.... I am worried about comming off the drugs and am also worried that if i get weaned off them i won' be able to coap when bubba 2 comes along... i'm due christmas day and for me that time of year is more that a nightmare...maybe im over reacting? and making something out of nothing....?

[Scout]

Loving Mumma - I am on 225mg of Effexor per day and gave birth 6 weeks ago. I did not come off Effexor before the birth, in fact I went from 150mg to my current dose at 26 weeks!

There is no withdrawal effect on the baby nor is the amount of the drug provided to the baby through breastmilk of any significance. We have a very healthy and divine little boy.

A dose of 37.5mg is very, very small dose - 75mg is the recommended therapeutic dose.

Of course, I'm not an doctor so seeking a second opinion is the best advice but I just wanted to let you know about my recent experience. Effexor is my lifeline - I'd like to decrease my dose at some point but I doubt that I will ever come off it. Like someone said about the BP medication - if you need it, you need it!

Good luck!

[Loving_mumma]

Scout- Thank you so much for that thought. Maybe my doctor is trying to cover himself? But it's nice to know other peoples experiences. Thank you for the hope you have given me. :kiss:

[JobyBear]

I was on 50mg of Aurorix for depression for about 3yrs before falling pregnant. When I spoke to my doctor he said that not enough was known about anti-depressants in pregnancy and said while it probably would be safe, he still advised me to stop taking them to be on the safe side.

I've found I'm on a "natural high" being pregnant now anyway & don't need them at the moment. However this may change if PND kicks in!!! :(


Loving_mumma- i'm due christmas day and for me that time of year is more that a nightmare
Why don't you come join us in the "Due in December 2006" thread in the "When are you due" forum. The women there are very friendly & can help with advice & support with all sorts of things too.