Antidepressants & Pregnancy

**MrsP** · 24-09-2007 17:44

Hi Guys,

I'm wanting to hear any stories that you have, good or bad, of your experiences with antidepressants during pregnancy.

I was diagnosed with PND shortly after Evie was born in Feb this year. Subsequently I stopped breastfeeding & started taking antidepressants and all seemed to be going along smoothly - that was until we found out we were pregnant again.

I stopped taking them, as in my opinion if you can't take them when breastfeeding, you can't take them when pregnant. Dr has informed me that if things get bad for me, I can start taking them again, but I'm really concerned about doing this - for the health of my baby.

Can anyone shed some light on their experiences? I don't know what to do, but I just can't keep going on like this as the PND is getting bad again & I don't want myself or my family to suffer more than they have to....

Many thanks in advance

**QTB** · 24-09-2007 17:49

I have had PND since brayden was 12weeks old (if not earlier)

i started on anti-ds when he was 18months... found out i was preg when he was 21months... so was only on them a short time and was realllly worried about stopping them and starting different ones (the one i was on was bad for preg) after talking to a dr trained to deal with PND i was advised that often a preg woman is fine without anything due to the hormones raising during pregnancy and evening out where they should be....

I weaned off my meds and iv been off them about 5-6 weeks now and am still doing great

but - its a decision only you can make

**JnA** · 24-09-2007 17:55

I don't have a personla experience but I do have a friend who is pregnant and taking antidepressant medication.

The baby will go through a period of withdrawal after birth, and this will probably be a tough time for her.

It's really a catch 22 situation, and I believe that it's one of those personal choice things. Spending your pregnancy in a state of depression is probably as harmful on a bub as using medication, I guess it comes down to whether you can control your depression using other methods or not.

While having a baby go through a withdrawal might be someones' idea of unnecessary, you have to assess the situation for you and your time as a pregnant woman.

I'll watch this thread with interest for actual experiences.

**misskittyfantastico** · 24-09-2007 18:01

I've been on antidepressants since I was 18. On the advice of several doctors and specialists, I stayed on them throughout my pregnacy. I developed PND and my dose was increased but I continued to breastfeed though out all of this...there are varieties of anti-depressants that you are able to take while pregnant and BFing

I'm pregnant again and on my pre PND dosage of medication.

For me (and the doctors agreed) the risks of NOT being on medication, far outweighed any risk to bubba...who btw seems pretty okay to me!

**pinkevie** · 24-09-2007 18:03

Hi MrsP,

I am really interested to hear others experiences as well. I was on antidepressants when I found out I was pregnant. I stopped taking them about 2 weeks later. Since that time my life has been a huge mess (my parent were in a car accident etc.) and although I coped really well initially, I am not really coping any longer. My Doctor told me last wk that she wants me to go back on the antidepressants. I haven't yet as I am really struggling with what the right thing is to do. I want to feel better but I wont do anything to harm my baby. I have the prescription but I haven't gotten it filled because I dont even know if I could put it in my mouth.

I would love to hear how other people dealt with this situation.

**BeautifulBoys** · 24-09-2007 19:46

Hello
I've been taking Zoloft for 3yrs as i was suffering anxiety attacks & just general anxiety about everything & anything.. just felt like I was having a breakdown of some sort so Im glad I sort help in the end.
I feel so much better on them, I kept taking them while I was preg & breastfeeding with DS who is now 22months,lucky I did as I had a very traumatic birth experience (nearly died!!)
We are TTC now & I've done a couple ot tests & got a

so fingers x its early days but will do a digital one weds.
Every doc is different however my doc said the medication(zoloft 50mg) is safe to take while pregnant & breastfeeding.
I didn't notice any withdrawls from my DS
He was unsettled in the early days but I didn't have milk for 6days so he was bottle feed & prob had upset stomach...& confused between being B/feed & bottlefeeding.
I will continue to take them through this next pregnancy as I think a sound mind is better..& i feel my anxiety stays under control.Chatting to someone helps.
I am taking vitamins&folate aswell.
Hope that helps.

**BeautifulBoys** · 24-09-2007 19:49

Get the facts about anti-depressents from doctors NOT THE INTERNET... as it can be misleading info.
Get a second opinion.

**Shanaynay** · 25-09-2007 06:40

There are plenty of anti-depressants with minimal risk that are suitable to take while both pregnant and breastfeeding. I've done both.

As MKF said, for some people, the benefit of the medication far outweighs any potential risk.

Please, pregnancy, birth, and having a young baby is a far too special time to waste it feeling so low: if you need medication - please consider it.

**fludo** · 27-09-2007 21:18

This is a decision that took me years to make. I have been on Aropax for anxiety for over 7 years. Have made several attemps to live without them, but is not an option for me. I also tried a few safer drugs, but they also didn't seem to have any effect. Aropax isn't one of the safest SSRI's, there is a slightly increased risk of bub having a heart defect. But for me, the choice comes down to taking the risk, or not having children, because I know I can't get by without them (been through lots of counselling etc which was fab, but am convinced after years and years of trying that I'm just chemically imbalanced and need that drug). I don't take a very high dose - only 10mg (half a tab), so the risk is even smaller.

I agree with BirthingBeauty re getting doc's opinions, BUT, I have talked to 3 different docs, 1 tried to get me on other types that were safer, another recommended a completely different class of drug that I don't think were right for my condition and am not convinced they were safer, and the other doctor, having reviewed my history and considering the dose and my overall health had no problem at all, just that I have to be monitored. So, get lots of doctors' opinions, and then make your own decision! And don't feel guilty for taking meds when you need them. Your baby will also be negatively effected if you are mentally unwell. And the withdrawel is not like withdrawel from alcohol or heroin or something and you can always try to ween your dose down in the last few weeks to minimise withdrawel symptoms too.

Sorry for the

. It's a topic that's close to me obviously. BirthingBeauty - nice to have a fellow anxiety "conquerer" (not "sufferer"!) in the Due in June threads!