Anti-depressants In Pregnancy

[MammyMammy]

Hi,

My sister has suffered from depression for many years and has been on an antidepressant for a few years. She tried a couple of times to lower her dosage, which had its sucesses, but she cannot come off totally without having horrible feelings, thoughts, and all the other things that go with suffering depression. Lucky for me, I cannot even comprehend what these feelings may be like. I've had depression at times in my life but nothing that didnt blow over after a few weeks or months.

So she is now wanting to start a family soon, and simply cannot find information on being able to stay on the medication throughout and beyond the pregnancy. Her risks would be higher, not significant enough though, to consider not having a family at all, or worse, coming off the medication altogether and risk feeling so bad that the result could be worse for mother and baby than if she had stayed on medication.

There are not a lot of places where you'll actually see it written that it's ok to stay on meds, its pretty much Taboo...but there must be people out there with similar stories, concerns, experiences??

This is an issue that is very near to my heart, so I am asking any BubHubbers to please help her with any informaton, wesites, person experiences of this kind, or referals to Obstetricians (in Melb) with a special interest in this issue.

Thankyou for reading and if you have any help for my sister, please reply. :wave:

xox

[Lunar]

I was told when I fell pg with #1 that it was ok for me to keep taking my meds (but I didn't:rolleyes: :shame: ) I was ok though.

I think it would be wise for her to talk to her Dr, the one that is managing her meds. They are the ones that will be able to tell her the risks/benefits of using the meds in pregnancy.

Hope this helps.

[Tam-I-Am]

I'm a psychologist who has worked for years in public mental health. We had lots of women in your sister's situation come through our doors at various times. There are anti-depressants that are safer than other during pregnancy, and her doctor would be able to discuss that with her. Even better, it would be wise for her to seek a referral to either a psychiatrist who has an special interest in pregnancy, or to an obstetrician who has a special interest in psychotropic medications.

I hope your sister finds an understanding (and knowledgeable!) practitioner to help her through her pregnancy.

[sugar n spice]

Hi
I was feeling depressed in my second preg and i was told that the safest anti depressant for pregnancy is Cipramil. I was told to take that but got the presciption filled but stressed more about it harming the baby ( i suffer anxiety) so i didnt even use them as my dr told me its better for me not to take them if its going to make me anxious but they are safe.

[♥Heaven Sent♥]

Hi there,
I was the same before i got pregnant with dd i done my research and got put on meds that were safe for pregnancy.I took Endep(amitriptiline) through my pregnancy with dd and half way through ds when i was having heart problems i had to be put on another med.I went through the pshyc at my birthing hospital they found the perfect med for me and the safest for my bub.My 2 kiddies and happy and healthy and no affects to them.Mayby your sister can have a chat with her doctor about this,he/she would have some more information.

[Me]

I also took meds whilst preg - although only for a month and it was about a 1/5th of the normal dose - but my dr said that the safest meds to take are the ones that have been around for long periods of time - eg 30-50yrs. His reasoning was that there have been so many women during that time taking these meds whilst preg without causing harm to the bubs - which completely makes sense to me.

On the mention of Cipramil being safe during pregnancy - from my understanding it's quite a strong and fairly recently(10-15yrs) medication - I wouldn't have thought it to be up there in the 'best' medications during pregnancy? but that said, I also have an extremely bad reaction to it:no:

The best thing for your sister would probably be to start talking to her dr now about changing meds and possibly changing before conception - this way she will know how the meds are going to affect her iykwim

Good luck to your sister!

[ziggie]

:wave:
I'll probably be on anti depressants for the rest of my life... although I am on them for panic attacks....
My Doc changed me from efexor (Venlafaxine) to luvox (Fluvoxamine) when I started to try for a bubba. Hope this helps

[spoon]

Hiya all,

I was told by my phyc. that i should be taking fish oli. there have been studies that have prooven that fish oil is wonderful for depression and awesome for bipolar (Which is what i have)

I ahve been taking it for a while now and i feel really good. more level headed.

It is also very good for babies brain.

Check it out.

[MissieK]

I was on anti depressants through my second pregnancy. There are some brands that are safe & others that aren't - so it's best to talk with her doctor about it.

Melissa

[ImSethsMum]

I take Lexapro and was told if I ever fall pregnant again that its ok to stay on this one till the last trimester then Id have to change.

In saying that I was told Id be put on Zoloft .... which is one I was given in the begginning (when trying to find one that was best for me) and after one Zoloft tablet I ended up in the hospital due to racing heart and breathing problems. So I definatly wont be letting them put me on that again.
The thing is everyone can have reactions to each type of anti-d med so id suggest getting her to find one that is good and doesnt give her complications before she starts trying for a bub IYKWIM.

[Mrs J]

Hi i am on Zoloft 150 now but i was only on 50 through my preg, it was a cat B i think but the risks of not being on it were worse then being on it, and my bub is fine. I will be on them for the rest of my life no chance of ever getting off them we have tried 1000 and i have resigned myself to the fact that im on them forever.. I was changed to 150 as the lower dose i had become immuned to, im TTC atm and i intend on taking the 150 mg through that preg to. Better that then being off them because its not good.

[Scout]

I had ante-natal depression from Week 8-32 and thus couldn't come off of my meds, in fact I went up! My obstetrician and psychiatrist worked very closely together in order to monitor this. The hospital was also very aware of the situation and also monitored me closely after the birth.

If I had come off the medication during pregnancy, I would have most certainly killed myself. Healthy mummy = Healthy baby was my obstetrician's mantra and it certainly was the truth. My nearly 8 mth old is absolutely perfect.

If I was your sister, I would ensure that I had private health insurance for the pregnancy to ensure an obstetrician can monitor the situation and so that a stay in a psych unit (as has been required for me during and after pregnancy) is easy to organise.

[reAllytee]

I was on anti-depressants for awhile before i fell pg lucky for me i came off them a few months before i fell.
I was on a large dosage of effexor which is suitable while pg.
I suffered through the pregnancy with bouts of depression but i handled it because luckily i had had counselling through a psychologist who had armed with strategies on how to help myself.
When i had my bubs i had PND but was to scared to tell anyone for fear of having my bub taken away etc plus i was embarassed that i had failed.
It took me until my baby was 12mths to realise i wasnt coping & i needed help. I first started with the herbal remedy St Johns Wort which helped for a bit until i knew i needed to go back to anti-depressants.
I then started on Zoloft because i knew this was one of the safest if TTC or pregnant. I had been on this a few months when i found out i was pg with #2, i had planned to stay on them until i spoke with my doctor & we looked up some new info etc.
For me the worries of the problems in could cause on my unborn baby was too great for me to risk it especially as i had started going up in my dosage. The risks arent huge but enough to make me think.
I guess the reason i also felt giving them up would be ok was the fact i see a psychologist every 2wks which is again helping me cope a lot more easily.
Most risks associated with the antidepressants are caused in the last trimester but i just didnt want to go all that way through then have to wean off them. Ive already had a hard time weaning as it is & im only 10wks.
Now im not saying everyone should do the same or your sister should either this was the decision i made for myself. As others have said things need to be weighed up in regards to whether she would cope being off them etc etc.
Its a case of working out the lesser of the two evils.
Good luck & its awesome that you are such a caring sister :hugs:

[Hokey Pokey]

I have been on Efexor too, and stopped just before falling pregnant but have been told that if I need to start again it is safe while pregnant.

[tarnyja]

hello my name is tarnyja. i have bipolar and are on 7 medications.ive managed to come off most and im feeling stable nearly ready to get pregnant. i was lucky to see the world specialist dr jon rampono.leader in medication tests and saety.he's talked to us over a few hours about safe meds during preg and after and during breast feeding. he was wonderful.very straight forward and clearly knowledgable
he is in perth, his contacts
perth clinic suites
33 havelock street west perth 6005
my confidence has lifted knowing someone has done all the testing possible for people like us needing special care and fufilling our dreams of being a family
i hope this helps

[IbuZiggy]

I take Effexor 150mg daily. I was taking it before I fell pregnant, while i was pregnant and whilst breastfeeding for the past year. My doctor advised me that it was harmless to my baby - but a small percentage of children will have "withdrawls" in the first few days of life. I cut down to around 115mg a day in the last few weeks of pregnancy which was a complete nightmare. I wish I had just taken my full dose through that time as I would have been in a better headspace when in labour and in the first few days of my son's life. I went back up to my full dose the night he was born.

[kirt]

Hi, From my understanding the med you were taking is the same as Esipram. I am 21 weeks pregnant and I have been told by one doctor to stay on Esipram 10mg through the whole pregnancy and then by another to get off it at the start of the third trimester. Im getting close to that time now and I am extremely worried about getting off it. I missed two days in a row of the tablets cause I hadnt got my script refilled and for 4 days afterwards I was starting to get the beginnings of horrible thoughts again and feeling a little anxious, I never want to feel what I felt off the meds ever again, If I could I would stay on them for the rest of my life hehe... How did u go stopping it in the third Tri? What did u use as a substitute? Thanks

Kirstin (Kirt)

[fludo]

Is it safe to take anti-depressants during pregnancy?

Some are safer than others, but generally yes, they are fairly safe. For some of us, we don't have the option to be drug-free, so we have to choose the safest option for all.

[cherrie73]

Hi, I too take AD's for anxiety/depression. I am on Cymbalta (duloxetine) 30mg daily, usual dose is 60mg but I never needed to up the dose. I started on these after many years of all different meds...think I've tried them all lol! This is a relatively new one but I have found it to be the best one I've been on having less side effects. I was already on Cymbalta when I got pregnant (thanks to Clomid) & my FS & Ob have not been concerned about it at all. They consider my mental wellbeing crucial to the health of the baby, the lesser of two evils!
I read a study referring to the mental health of the mother being a factor in the baby's mental health later in life & if she is less stressed & stable in pregnancy then the better it is for bub.
I did speak to a nurse at the Womens Hosp in Melbourne who said that they have a Psychiatrist there who specifically deals with these issues pre, during & post pregnancy, your sister would just need a referral from her GP or Ob. They will spend time with you regularly & adjust meds if need be, definitely worth inquiring about & it sounded like it would be a free service as it's public. Also your GP can write your sister up for a mental health plan which entitles her to see a psychologist for about $20 a session & medicare pays the rest, you do get a choice of psych too. I found that talking to a psych helped just as much as the meds, their coping strategies are extremely helpful.
I do know that Aropax (paroxetine) is a big no no in pregnancy & is known for causing heart defects. Apart from that the SSRI's & Tricyclics seem to be the drugs of choice. (Sorry am a nurse so tend to use abbreviations etc. hope it makes sense)
Google - anti depressants in pregnancy & you will get some interesting reading...remembering you can't trust everything you read on the net!!
I wish your sister well & she obviously has a lovely supportive sister in you!
Feel free to ask me any questions if that helps! :)
Cheers, Alison.

[BabelFish]

I have been on anti-depressants and also a mild mood stabiliser (I have bipolar disorder) throughout both of my pregnancies, and breastfeeding. I have a happy, healthy, beautiful little girl and this pregnancy is perfect so far as well.

I am also part of a national study on the effects of one of my medications in pregnancy and breastfeeding.

They are safe and necessary if you have a condition that requires treatment. It is important to get the right advice and good ante- and postnatal care from a qualified doctor as well as being medicated.

[crusadersgirl]

Thanks ladies - although this thread wasn't for me it is nice to know that others have been/are on the same medication as me. I have been on and off medication for over 10 years as i suffer from depression. When i was going to start trying my GP changed me to Efexor. When we really started trying i was advised by another GP that i shouldn't be on anything so i tried to come off it completely. I got down to 75mg every second day but i wasn't functioning properly adn was having really bad heart palpatations.
I was then referred to a person at public to have an assessment done and she advised that it was fine to stay on it and had only seen ill effects with babies whose mothers had been on really high like 1000mg doses. SO very relieved.
Then when we did fall pregnant went to obstetrician and he said no towards the end i will have to come off it as it isn't good.

I have to say the thought of coming off my medication at this stage with the side effects is very scary and i don't think i can do it.

So to hear other peoples stories is a relief - fingers crossed that all goes well.

But i guess the best thing is with threads like this we are not alone!