Antidepressant Medication While Pregnant

I had to take zoloft 100 mg 2 times a day throughout my pregnancy. My daughter is 1 now (in a week she will be), and she has no emotional, or physical problems from me having to take them. Shes smart and healthy so I truly wouldn't worry about it because yes the benifits outweigh the risks sometimes, and I think its in a class c, just to be safe, ya know?

Hi A.. This is my experience. Unfortunately I have suffered from severe depression for a long time. My pregnancy was unplanned but I wasn't upset. I was on Prozac and Wellbutrin at the time. Like most others, I decided that I should stop taking the meds. But my depression was so deep that I was still having the effects of depression even though I was excited (and nervous) about having twins. I honestly felt that my depression was being detected, so to speak, by the babies. I guess I felt like the knew when I was sad, crying, irritable, etc. I talked to my doctor about it and he was concerned for the same reasons as I was. We decided that it would be best to go back on the Prozac. I took it throught the rest of my pregnancy. My twins were 8 weeks early but I honestly believe that the Prozac had NOTHING to do with it. That sort of thing happens with twins. In the hospital, they even brought my a Prozac when they brought me my pain medication. I feel good about the decision I made and I have not seen anything in my kids that might be an effect from the medication and they are going to be 3 next week. I needed it. Everyone is different, though. I think that you (or whoever you are asking for) needs to sit down and really weigh the severity of the depression versus the possible effect with a doctor. I hope that my story is of some benefit - to help make a decision. If you have any questions, please contact me. I haven't been on here long but I'm sure there is a way to send someone a private message...

I took prozac through my second pregnancy, I had no issues with it. normal pregnancy, normal baby!

I took zoloft throughout my second pregnancy. I choose to wean off of it about two months before his birth to ensure he did not have any side effects from the withdrawl and immediately began taking it again after his birth. He had no side effects at all!!

I am currently in my third pregnancy and am slowly weaning off of my zoloft again, just so the baby will not have any withdrawl problems after birth. Once again, I will begin taking the zoloft immediately after this baby's birth.

T.

I had PPD with my first child and it was horrible. i switched medications alot to try and find the right one for me but none really worked for me. After I stopped taking birth control, because of the cost,I got scared that if I got pregnant while I was taking the meds that it would hurt the baby. I talked to my dr. and shee said that they could be harmful but they know what drugs to use that are known to not be harmful. They also drop the dose down alot. I was still scared so I told her I wanted to be weaned off of them to see how I would do without them. It has been hard at times and I know I still need them but I think a few bad days are better than taking the risk of damaging my child. But I am doing pretty good off of them so far, but I know many others have more serious problems than I do. My advice to you would be to try and wean off of them, with dr approval of course, and see how you handle it. If its been a while since you have been on them you may discover that you don't need them anymore. I don't know your history though, if this is more than PPD you may find that its is best to take a less potent drug at a low dose while pregnant. Also what helped me while I was getting off of my meds was to take the herbal meds like St johns wort. They helped tremendously after I was weaned off of my meds. I stopped taking it now though because I was afraid if I got pregnant that they may be harmaful also. I am not pregnant currently but I am trying. I also know that if I get PPD with my second one I will not hesitate to start taking the meds again. They are a lifesaver for mothers with PPD.

Hi there,
Yes i took lexapro during my pregnancy. i have a psychatrist bi monthly for years. she said that is the only one on the market that is safe enough to take duing pregnancy. she double checked with her husband who is an ob doctor and psychatrist also. i was on other ones too, wellbutrin, and had to get off of it during my pregnancy. that all i know, hope it helps.
B.

Hello,
I didn't take antidepressents while pregnant but suffered from severe Post Partum Depression and Psychosis. During treatment I attended a support group for women with PPD and met several women that were taking meds while pregnant with close supervision of our Psychiatrist, Dr. Ronald Rosenberg (awesome man!) None of their babies suffered any negative consequences from the meds and the women undoubtedly needed them. I would be more than happy to give you Dr. Rosenbergs info. if you'd like to call him and/or schedule a consult with him. He's an OB/GYN, now a Psychiatrist and helped save my life. Good Luck!!
M. M.

Hello, I tried Wellbutrin while I was pregnant with my second child and niether of us suffered any side affects. I would reccomend it to anyone that feels an anti-depressant would be helpful during thier pregnancy.

A good friend of mine took Prozac while pregnant with her dr’s authorization. I choose to take myself off my antidepressant (Lexapro) and I wish I didn't. My dr. had me start again before I even left the hospital.
When I was first pregnant I was so happy and excited. Towards the end I was under a lot of stress at work and feeling somewhat down with all the hormones. That was when I wished I had stayed on them.
Good Luck!

I was taking antidepressants when we decided to start trying to get pregnant. I weened myself off of them slowly with the guidance of my therapist. I ended up having to see a fertility dr to get pregnant and he kept telling me pretty much at every appt that if I needed them he would put me back on them, I declined. My triplets are now 4 1/2 and reciently I saw an ad for a lawyer on TV for women that were on Paxil (the antidepressant I was on) during their pregnancy that gave birth to children who are now having lung and liver problems. I thank God that I made the decission that I did. I also have not had any problems with depression since being weened off my meds. I wish you all the luck in the world. :) Good luck on making the choice that is good for you.

Hugs
M.
mom to Christina 15
Isabella, Logan and Brody 4 1/2

HI, I am a firm believer in antidepressants, whether pregnant or not. My daughter is a suicidel bipolar, and her pregnancy would have been the end of her if it weren't for antidepressants. Her son was born with birth defects however, but suposedly none were linked to the meds she was on. One of the meds she was on before she knew she was pregnant was depecote,or however you spell that, which is known for causeing birth defects, she was on it and it counter acted with her birth control patch she was on. I'm still not convinced that didn't do some harm to her little guy. But once she knew she was pregnant they put her on safer meds, but she was nearly four months pregnant when she found out she was, she had periods right along. There are so many types of meds out there, and most are safe, you're doctor wouldn't put you on any that wouldn't be. And for you to funtion normally you may need them. Post pardom depression is really bad for bipolars as well, so meds are a life savor of the whole family. Never rule them out, if you think you need them, you probably do. Good luck to you.

I took 20 mgs of Prozac the whole time I was pregnant with my son. I had no side effects nor did my son. It helped me because I was severely depressed while pregnant with my son. So, in answer to your question, we both turned out fine and it really helped.

A.