Anti Depressants During Pregnancy?

I was taking Paxil and had a miscarriage. I don't know if there was a connection, but I decided to go off of them until I was done having children. They are a class B drug, so it says there have been risks in animals, but no documentation on humans (no studies have been done), so I guess it's up to you dependant on how you function without the meds. If you are so bad without them, then I would say it's best for you, and everyone around you, that you stay on them.

In general, SSRIs are considered safe in pregnancy. One study a couple of years ago questioned the safety of paroxitine (Paxil) during the first three months, and linked them to a lesser heart defect, one that usually resolves spontaneously. The risk was very small. You are already past the point where that would apply. A new study that came out just a few weeks ago refuted the first one and said that Paroxitine did not increase risk. Motherisk.org is a good resource for this kind of info. If you go to the "professionals" section you can read the study reports.

Ongoing depression and depression during pregnancy are two very high risks for postpartum depression, and that is something that you want to avoid. Your doctor or midwife should be able to discuss this with you in more detail as it applies to your specific case and the drug being used, and you are wise to get others' experiences.

Essential fatty oils/omegas have also been very useful in treating depression when used in strong enough doses... up to 4g a day. The B vitamin complex is also essential. Using those might enable you to take a smaller dose of an SSRI..

D.

Hi~

I think it all depends on what you&your doctor decide what is best for you&the baby.

And also,what kind of meds you are taking,and how much.

Like for example~while I was pregnant,my OB&I decided that it was safe for me to continue to take citalopram during pregnancy.

My pregnancy went fine(except for killer sciatica...lol!)and I had him the day after his due date, healthy.

See-it all depends....it is up to you and your Doctor to decide:)

Good luck:)
AmberC

I took anti-depressants during my last two pregnancies and was fine. As long as your Dr. checks to make sure that you and the baby are doing all right, I don't see any reason why you shouldn't be able to take them. You just have to make a decision - be miserable and possibly lash out at your family often, or take medication to help keep it under control. H., mom to Ethan(4) and Emma(3).

I took anti depressants during my entire pregnancy and continued after the birth of my son, who is not 3 1/2. I can't remember which way it was, but I believe it was that I took Prozac during pregnancy, and zoloft after my pregnancy. It might have been the other way around. For some reason, one is safe during pregnancy and the other is safe during breast feeding. I had no complications during my pregnancy and had a healthy baby too! I highly recommend taking them if you truely need them. I would not have had it any other way.

I was on 40 mg of Prozac (fluoxitine) before, during and after pregnancy of my 3rd child. OB/GYN assured me it was safe. My 3 year old little girl is perfectly healthy, happy and delightful! I breastfed her for two full years. No formulas due to allergies -- they run in our family.

Talk to your OB/GYN. It is so worth staying on the meds! I had post-partum depression after my 2nd. Finally went on Prozac 3 years later! What a difference! (5 years between child 2 & 3)

The best advice is definatly consult your doctor, but I too am miserable without my medicine. I took Lexapro while I was pregnant with my last two children and neither of them have suffered side affects from the medicine. I hope your pregnancy goes well and you find the answers you are looking for.

Hi,

If you need them during pregnancy take them!

I suffered from a classic textbook case of post-partum depression with my first son. Then with my second pregnancy by month 5, it hit me like a ton of bricks. I did a lot of research and after much stress, I opted to take zoloft for the rest of my pregnancy. It really was essential for me and within a week I was my normal happy self again.

You need to do what you need to take care of yourself! My doctors said that zoloft is a good safe option during pregnancy.

Best wishes! Do not feel alone in this struggle, it is amazingly common.

J.
Mom to two boys ages 2 and 4

Hi - Yes, I took Lexapro during my pregnancy and everything seems to be okay with my little guy. I did stop taking it in the last trimester though as that was what my doc suggested that I do. I did start up again after baby was about 3 months I think. Prozac is one of the best ones for breastfeeding as it transfers the least in the milk. But I kept with the Lexapro. If you need something please get with a doc and find something for you! There is a number that I just cant recall for drug information from the University of Washington. They can tell you about the drugs and all that good stuff about transfer in milk.
But get something! It will really help!

I had post-partum depressioni after my 1st son and was on ant-depreseents when I got pregnant with my second son. The doctor had me try no meds when I was pregnant and I did fine. If I would not have done fine they would have had me continue taking the meds. I would definately talk with your doc and find out what works best for you. There are some meds that have been around a long time and they understand the risks much better. What is important is that you are healthy physically and mentally during and after your pregnancy and your doc should be in a place to help you make that happen. if the doc is not willing to help, I strongly reccomend you find another. (I had a midwife my 2nd time and it was night and day with the first one.)

Good Luck and hang in there

Hi R.,

I would encourage you to speak with your doctor. I'm a perinatal nurse and it is not uncommon for woment to take some antidepressants throughout pregnancy. If for some reason you don't take them during the pregnancy, it is critical that you think about starting them as soon as the baby is born. You may be at a higher risk for post-partum depression. Many times we start women in the hospital on one.

Best of luck to you,

C.

Hi R.,
When I was preggers with my second baby I hit major depression. My oldest was 18 months. It was like a switch went off in my body and I was really having a hard time. I spoke to my doctor about it (that was hard for me to do) and she put me on Zoloft. This is really common and they have done lots of studies about it. The stress and anxiety that you are currently dealing with could be worse for the pregnancy than the SSRI. After I had #2 I was moved to Effexor. Be open with your doctor and your partner about what you are going through. You need to take care of yourself first... if you are well in mind and body than your baby will be just fine!
Best of luck to you!!
Mel

I used Welbutrin during the 2nd and 3rd trimester. I talked to the psychologist at Group Heath as my pcp was not as well informed. as there is not alot of research on welbuterin in post pregnancy i switched to celexa. Welbuterin is the only class B antidepressant. Talk to your md as soon as possible as it takes time to kick in.
there are also a selection of natural options that were very helpful also. We did a st. Johns wort tincture with a homeopathic calms med from Hylands and a tea referred to me by my midwife. Organic flax fish and ... one other a 3-6-9 combo was a benificial option for me. If your interested in more info send me a pm and i can refer you to some resources in the south sound area if it helps.

Wow, this is a difficult one....taking them makes you emotionally available to your two year old but may harm your unborn. All I can share is that my doctor told me that it was safe when I was planning to get pregnant in 2002. I had been on them for 9 mos and he wanted me on them for 1 year. (mine was situational) Anyway, I chose to quit them and 3 months later I was pregnant. I managed to get through it and struggled post partum but stayed off them becasue I wanted to breast feed. Low and behold, 1-2 years ago they announced birth defects were linked to paxil and others. I guess if you can rely on a strong support network, if daddy can pick up the slack, you take extra breaks for sleep-exersise and maybe try dietary stuff, you may at least get through the pregnancy. I know that if one of the moms in my son's play group came to me with this issue and asked for support, I'd be there in a heartbeat. I hope you are able to reach out and ask your friends (if yo have a reliable source) becasue I bet they would step up. Good Luck, this is a difficult situation!!

I took an SSRI (Lexapro) during both my pregnancies and while breastfeeding. My girls are now 3.5 and 14 months old.

I talked over the risks with my GYN as well as my family practitioner. We concluded that the risks directly to the babies are relatively small, while the risks of having a mom crippled by depression (and it IS crippling - you know that) are much higher. Your family needs you functional.

My best wishes to you and your family. Take care of yourself!

My sister took Paxil (i think) when she was pregnant with my niece and she turned out a beautiful happy baby. I think if you are really struggling that you should talk to a Dr. and see if they recommend something. I would also recommend a social group. One that's face to face not on the internet to help support you and lift your spirits. In my opinion it's more important to take a medication if you really have a medical problem than it is to not. If you are really struggling with depression the chances are higher of you hurting yourself or the baby because of it than the chances of a pregnancy approved anti-depressant causing harm to your wee one. Some natural ways to help lift your spirits are St. John's Wart (it's a flower) isn't as powerful but is a good mood booster and peppermint and spearmint are also good mood boosters. Chamomile (I recommend "Sleepy Time Tea") and lavender are really good relaxers and completely baby safe to ingest. hope this helps!

My doctor okayed wellbutrin during my pregnancy (I'm in my 14th week) and everything I have read says this one is okay. I believe it is so important that you take care of yourself now. The hormones are enough to drive someone without our predisposition for depression into a tailspin! Take them - they are just as important as your prenatal vitamin!!!

Hi,
I have been where you are twice. The first time I stopped taking my meds as soon as I found out I was pregnant. Bad idea! I was miserable! Until I hit the second trimester and my hormones started to help. The second time, I continued taking my meds because my ob said SSRI's present a very low risk,and the benefits to me outweighed the risks. I felt MUCH better and was able to take care of my 2 yr old. I was even able to nurse on meds because my ob said it wouldn't harm my baby. Double check with your ob, he should have a chart that tells him which drugs pose a risk. Hang in there, and take on day at a time.

I am not sure what SSRI is but I took celexa with both of my pregnancies. The doctor said that the benefits definately outweighed the risks. Both my children seem fine. Good luck with your decision.

I haven't had any experience with this, but just this morning on NPR there was a story about long term antidepressant use, and a gal called in who had taken them during her pregnancy. At the point of the call her son was 3 and seemed absolutely normal. Good luck!

I took Zoloft before, during & after my pregnancy. It was the right choice for me and my baby had & has no effects from the drug and I was able to be a happy and healthy mother for her because I continued to take my drugs. She is now 3.I would consult with your doctor, and do the research to make the best choice for your situation.

The safer way to go would be to take Molecularly distilled (more concentrated and more purified) fish oils like Nordic Naturals which you can get at Super Supplements or Whole foods.

Not only will they raise seratonins in your brain, which lift mood, but they will make your baby smarter too! It may take longer for them to kick in but they are completely safe and without the negative side effects of anti depressants.

Fish oils are also the first thing mothers in Europe reach for during post partum depression! WOW! You may not have PPD of you take them during pregnancy too! K.

I have a two year old healthy girl and I took my normal dose of Zoloft the whole time I was pregnant. There have been some problems with Paxil and pregnancy. You can always go see a high-risk OB who can help you manage your meds and keep an eye on the baby.

R., this is a decision only you and your own doctor can make. No one else is qualified to advise you about something as important as this. I went off my meds during my pregnancies, but I was just fine without them. Your case is going to be different, so please talk to your doctor and go with your best judgement. I wish you a happy and healthy pregnancy!