Depression - Corpus Christi, TX

L.,

I was in the same situation with both my pregnancy's. I am bipolar & I need to take medicine all the time, not just during pregnancy.

Here's what I was taking while pregnant with my last child:
Wellbutrin, Zoloft, Lamictal, Ambien, Risperdal (this one only during the 8th and 9th month).

His pediatrician checked out my son right after he was born and she said everything looked just fine. My now 18-mo-old is a totally typical toddler.

I can not tell you the guilt I felt while taking all those meds though. But, my psychiatrist said that there are other kinds of risks that can threaten the baby whose mother is severly depressed. You do not want to let yourself tumble so far down mentally that you have to be hospitalized during your pregnancy. That would have been a very real possibility for me.

My doc and I stayed in close contact with eachother and he would not have given me anything that would have compromised my baby. He did say that taking anything like Valium, Ativan or Xanax would be totally out of the question.

Be gentle & forgiving to yourself. The meds do take time to work (sometimes 2-4 weeks). While I was pregnant, I lifted my baby up to God everyday and prayed over him. If you know others that would, ask them to pray for you as well. If it's okay with you, I'd like to lift you and your baby up as well.

If you want to talk more, let me know and I'll give you my email.

1. Don't beat yourself up
2. Take one day at a time
3. Reach out to others for help
4. PRAY!! :)

C.

1 mom found this helpful

hello L. i would like tolet you know i had a baby 7 months ago and i work full time...But you know what happend i felt the same as you but i did not as for medication. you know what i took time out to enjoy my pregnancy and to care for my family.i only work part-time when i felt good i would come in when i did't feel good i would not come in. just think positive and take naps and when your in your tub relax...get help from your family.let your other kids go out and you be home relaxing.....remember that all pregnancy are different but enjoy it..love carol

L. -

I had been taking medication for depression for about 3 years when my husband and I decided to start a family. I tried to get off the medication, which worked very well, but the depression came back. My OB, my family MD, and a psychiatrist I worked with told me that my Effexor was OK to keep taking. I think you have to weigh your emotional health against the risk of side effects, effects on the pregnancy, etc. I had a healthy baby girl who is now 2 and I am still on my Effexor because it works for me. It can take up to 6 weeks to really know if the Wellbutrin will help, so stick with it...but call your MD if things go downhill. Are you also seeing a counselor? That can help as well. Good luck!

S.

Hi L., I know of a supplement that could help you. It's not a drug but you do need to ask your doctor about taking it first just to be safe. It has things like St. John's wort and other natural ingredients. If you are interested in it let me know. God Bless, J.. www.jonnicewilcox.com

L.,
Hi. I don't believe that Wellbutrin is the only anti-depressant you can take while pregnant...when I was pregnant & needed to be medicated for depression, they put me on Prozac (ie. fluoxetine), and I had 2 friends who were on Paxil & Zoloft during their pregnancies. If it was your regular family dr., they are not always aware of what meds are safe during pregnancy, nor what a-d's to prescribe. If you haven't already, I'd advise speaking with a psychiatrist. Prozac is one of the oldest anti-depressants, and has had many studies done on it regarding its safety during pregnancy. If I remember correctly, there are risks taking it during the 1st trimester, but after that, its safe. It is also safe to breastfeed while on it (This is all according to my psych. - when I asked my ob-gyn at the time about a-d's, he was unsure what meds were safe & told me to ask my psych, and my family dr. on more than one occasion prescribed meds that my pharmacist told me were unsafe during pregnancy/breastfeeding).
I've been prone to depression most of my adult life (and during my adolescence as well) and have done some research into the subject...especially when I was pregnant/nursing. There are a number of meds that are safe to take & since each med reacts differently with different people, it is important to find one that is not only safe, but that works for you! Speak with the dr. who prescribed Wellbutrin & inform them that it is not helping - mention any side-effects you are experiencing (such as suicidal thoughts, tremors, hallucinations, sickness, headaches, etc.). What's the point of taking anti-depressants if they are not helping?!?!?
I hope I have helped a little with your problem...do some research on your own (just google anti-depressants & pregnancy and I'm sure you'll find something) & make sure to ask your dr.s questions...try to be as well informed as you can before making decisions - I would not always blindly trust everything that comes out of a dr.'s mouth...
If I can help in any other way (even if you just want to talk), let me know!
-Lexi
www.oneofakindbylexi.com

Hi L.,
I'm glad to see that along with the meds you will see a pychologist. That in my opinion is what is missing. You can't just take meds and everything work out fine.I'm a big huge believer in meds+therapy. I have great confidence that once you start meeting w/ the doc you will feel better because you actually get to talk to a professional. I hope this helps.

I am taking Wellbutrin as well....I have been in your situation but not pregnant during it. You are doing a good thing by seeking help. The Wellbutrin will take a few weeks to get in your system and start working. I have tried a lot of different medicines and nothing has worked for me until Wellbutrin. Give it some time and if you need it talk to someone. It isn't healthy but you can't help it either. HUGS

K.

medication is helpful, different stuff works for different people, but being pregnant, i would consider trying positive thinking along with whatever meds the doc will let you take. i highly recommend, dr. wayne dyers book, the 10 secrets to sucess and inner peace, they do have it at the library, its a quick read, that you can flip back and forth through to read about what might help with how youre feeling, good luck

This is what the doc gave my husband when he was trying to quit chewing. It made my husband very depressed and edgey. He had to quit taking it. I am sure it works for some people and not for others, just like anything else.

L. let me tell you that i had postpartum depression
the last month of my pregnancy i was already exhausted frustrated etc. after i had my baby things went wacko i had thoughs of killing my baby cause of the crying killing my hubby cause he wouldn't know what to do and killing myself cause i had no hope i looked for help i told the doctor she accepted me in a mental hospital right away it helped me alot
it happens to many women you're not the only one it is a chemical imbalance, hormones etc. you need to find the strength in you and help from your family explain to them that it is a condition that it happens to people and it is temporary to help you cheer you up never stay in bed all day. the pills they give you give it about 3 to four weeks to take feel a difference you'll feel very sleepy which is normal i know it sucks to feel this way but it is 50% the pill and 50% you thnk about your family everytime get out as much as you can go watch a movie go walking keep your mind busy. always have someone with you that is like so important. everything will start looking better when you take the strength to get up from bed and make it better. my baby is 3 months old and i had to leave to the clinic when she was 1 week, i was in there for 2 weeks. It is hard don't end up in there. i am currently taking the med and still has not recovered i have my moments from time to time. Always listen to the doc.

you are bigger than anything that can happen to you
all those things, suffering, sorrow, and misfortune are outside your door
you are the house and you have the key

my prayers to you

ruthie

It's totally understandable that you have so much going on in your life with work, school, children, fiance, AND the pregnancy. Maybe you are feeling overwhelmed. I don't know zip about medications, but I do know that God never gives you more than you can handle but you have to lean on Him! Your depression is real, but God is always bigger. You are not alone, and he wants to hear all of your problems and wants you to give them over to Him. Don't let the devil steal your joy - you are at a great time in your life and one day you'll look back and the kids will be grown up and gone. Focus on the good things in life and pray pray pray. Do medically what you need to do, but never forget about our Creator and that He can take care of you better than anything else!

Don't give up yet! I used to work for a psychiatrist and it takes almost a month and a half for you to start feeling better and noticing the change. These meds you are taking are chemicals that have to take time to undo or stop what your body hasdoen to you. Alot of my former patients would go off their meds right away because they couldn't feel or see a difference. But please give it a couple of months before you do anything and your new doctor will tell you the ssame thing. Please if you want you can message me and I'll be happy to talk some more.

L.,
That is not trus you can take Zoloft when you are pregant. During July I found out that I was pregnat wiht my 3rd child and I was seeing a psych dr for my mood swings and she told me since I was pregant that they would put me on zoloft but, when it got closer to my delivery they would take me off of it... I also have depression but, I am not taking anything for it right now. I know what you are going threw. Well, for me I juts try to stay busy. I am due at the ned of MArch in 4 weeks so I am pretty much busy all the time. If I was you I would do some research and find out that you could take and do to control your depression....
I have 2 girls that are 4 and 2 so they keep me pretty much busy all the time... I hope this will help you out... Good luck! Congrats.

My friend takes medication for depression and it took about a month for medicine to work its way into system and before she noticed any differance. I also had a couple of months like that...I was preggie with second child, after not losing all my baby wieght from first child in seventh month found myself bigger than I had been ever. Along with being tired a lot, getting around and tending to needs of older child often made me feel that way. I discussed this with doctor who offered me meds' if it did not go away. After awhile it did and even sometimes now, there are weeks when I do not feel sucessful enough or whatever. My eldest has a speak delay and youngest has a speach delay/seizure disorder so often feel gilty though its not my fault....

I had a horrible psychotic response to Wellbutrin, which I was prescribed for depression - I wasn't pregnant at the time. That was the first time in my life I REALLY knew what people meant when they talked about "paranoia" and "panic attacks". Since then I've heard from other people who experienced manic episodes only after taking Wellbutrin for depression (but not with other antidepressants).

That stuff is AWFUL, at least in my opinion.

I took Prozac while I was pregnant. I'm not sure if the guidelines have changed or not, but it was considered safe then, and my children came out ok.

i have battled depression for 13 years now and experienced it badly during my last pregnancy. the deal with anti-depressants during pregnancy is this: if the cost outweighs the risk then your doctor will not prescribe it to you. in other words, let's say you want prozac. it is not necessarily safe for your baby, however if you have thoughts of suicide then it is worth the risk to take the prozac. see what i mean? also, any doctor will keep you on the same anti-depressant for at least 30 days. if the medication is still not working for you, the next step is to increase the dosage for 30 days. if that still does not work, then your doctor will discuss changing your medication. i would advise you to do anything and everything in your power to fight the depression without medication, whether it be through therapy, exercise, etc. but if that is not working for you, or if you have even the slightest thought of harming yourself, PLEASE i urge you to try a different medication. your health is imperative to your baby's health

You can also take up to 50mg of Zoloft. That is what I am currently on (after the Wellbutrin didn't do its work). I was taking Lexapro before I got pregnant, but my OB switched me to Zoloft, and I know of others who take this while pregnant and there have been no ill-effects. Personally, when I took Wellbutrin, I was freaking out too- it just wasn't a good med for me. The Zoloft has got me back "balanced" to how I was taking the Lexapro. Don't be afraid to ask to be changed to a different medication. I've been on Zoloft since I was 12 weeks (I'm almost 24 weeks now) and I've tolerated it well and I feel good. Good luck to you.

Hey I went through that a year ago when I was pregnant with my 3rd boy. It was a tough time for me and a tougher time for my husband, but he was understanding. I was on Lexapro, which my doctor said would not effect the baby in any way. I finally started feeling better towards the end of the pregnancy and sometimes it lasts on until the baby is born... I am no psychologist, but I have been there and understand. Try doing something without your children even if it is only an hour or so a week. It just gets a little overwhelming sometimes. Don't blame yourself and try having mommy son dates with the older one, again just an hour or so of special time with him. Also, it takes 3-4 weeks for the medication to start working with the chemicals in your brain, so don't be discouraged that you're not feeling better yet. Good luck.

K. C.

It took me at least a month and a half To feel good again when I started taking wellbutrin. Hang in there! You sound so busy and I know it is hard, but try to take some pamper time for yourself, you deserve it. :)

I'm battling depression also but I'm not pregnant. I can tell you that the medication will take awhile before it actually starts to fully work in your system. so give it a few more weeks and you should start to feel better. You may want to talk to a psychotherapist. i found mine very helpful at listening to how i was feeling and giving me advice on different ways to deal with how i was feeling and they can also give you great tips on how to calm your self down or relax with out medications. Hang in there and just remember to breathe, you seem so busy you may want to just slow down for a little while.