Panic and Pregnancy

Question

I am 36(f)have suffered panic attacks(classic symptoms) depersonalization, tinging in extrmeaties, fight or flight response, hot flashes, fast heartbeat, unfocused, confusion, diarrha, since 14, I was finally diagnosed at 27& put on Prozac 60mg 3+ yrs & psch. threapy, then prozac burnout, moved onto Serzone/Klonopin combo, after 5 yrs burnout, this June went on Serzone/Lexapro 10mg combo & Xanax.25mg as needed. My Question- I have put off becoming pregnant long enough bec. being  on meds. and scared to be off medication. I have talked w/ primary care Dr. and gyno and have come up w/ schedule to wean me off meds over 3 month period. I am now taking Xanax as needed, which now is often. I was fine just on Lexapro 10mg perday. Since off I am now feeling those classic symptoms described above all over again. I was told by my doc that the only med. I could be on as a last resort while being pregnat was Prozac my gyno agreed but suggested to start taking it after 16 wks being pregnant. I was really hopful afer weaning off meds & only on Lexapro that attacks would go away - wishful thinking. I am now having attacks every day at work and while driving. While I know that I actualy won't die from an attack it's hard to feel like this while having them. I ususally have several a day & worse at work, driving, shopping - where Iam "stuck" feeling that I can not run from the present siutation - Panic.  I have to go back to my primary care and give him a rundown of my current feelings, and belive he will suggest psychotherapy & perhaps Prozac.  I do not want to wait much longer as I am getting older and have already put off having a family due to my panic anxiety. It seems as the research is very limited on anti-depressents and pregnancy. I was really hoping to due this w/out meds. as I don't want to put the fetus in undue harm. I am scared that if I have to go on medication who knows what the side effects could be to the fetus & later in life, and if so I may be the cause for bringing that on - I know that anything could happen regardless - but I feel like I should give this child the best case scenario from the start. I feel selfish that I might not be able do this w/out meds. I am surving now just on the Xanax during the day at work and nothing at night - I push myself each day to wait and wait to take the Xanax. Even on the meds my days were spent tring to do my job (which is now suffering)while trying to fake out the attacks.They usually last from morning until I go to sleep with varying degrees of anxiety throughtout the day. I always experience at least 1 blown out attack every day. I can not see myself being pregnant and being able to drive 50 minutes and be productive at work for 40 wks. I would be grateful for any information you have on being pregnant and being on or off meication. Thank you in advance.

cfittingoff · Answer

Hi Everyone, My name is Cathy and I am 29 yrs old.  I have 2 children already, i hd no problems durring those pregnancies.  A couple of years ago ( after both my children )  I developed svere anxiety, and panic attacks to a point that I thought I was going to DIE!!!  Thank god I did not.  Iam 13 weeks pregnant now, I was taken off all of my meds , some before I even became pregnant and some when I found out.  I was on celexa, topamax,  kolonopin,  and ativan.  This combination worked for me when I was real bad,  Itried so many other meds and they did not work.  Finally something that did!!!  After a year  I came off celexa, and topamax.  Later came off ativan.  I was doing well w/ the kolonopin. When I became pregnant they told me to stop the kolonopin, this has been very hard for me.  It feels like iam going through it so badly again. They told me to take it only when in a severe panick attack.  I have had to take it about 5 or 6 times and it scares me.  My doctor put me on ativan once a day to keep me calm but Iam scared to take that as well and have delayed the start of taking it.  He says it will be fine but why am I so scared???? I really do not know what is worse for me right now the stress of panick attacks and the way that I feel or taking the meds.  Ialso found that comming off theese meds have made me deppressed to just lay around, cry alot, and not be able to sleep right.  So now I have all theese symptoms on top of the panick attacks.  PLEASE HELP!!!  I really do need the meds but am afraid to take them.  Thank you for listening

tiffanyangel · Answer

I am  15 weeks pregnant, and I have suffered from bipolar disorder as well as anxiety disorder.  Up until I became pregnant, i was heavily medicated with seroqel and xanax.  today i went to my phyciatrist and he prescribed .5 mg of xanax 3 times a day.  I decided I didn't need all those doses, so i am only going to take it once or twice a day(if needed).  I really beleive he would not have prescribed it to me if it would harm my baby.  He says the small doses wont effect the baby.  I have prayed about it, and basically just giving it to God.  I know God will direct me and if Im not supposed to take it, he will take it away from me.  
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llis · Answer

When I was 8 months pregnant I had a panic attack and depression My gyno said Zoloft was okay to take If you have to take anything at all. I took 150 milligrams and my son turned out fine, everything was okay.

Suzin · Answer

I've just turned 40 and have suffered from severe anxiety attacks for over 20 years. I've done myriad therapies--cognative, talk, pharmaceutical--but found that small doses of Xanax were the only real remedy to the constant panic attacks (cognative therapy was extremely helpful, but never resulted in total calm). I just got married and am hoping to become pregnant. However, my panic attacks and use of Xanax are huge obstacles. Just wondering if there's further information about Eve's posting. She said she was 36 and had postponed getting pregnant because she felt her panic attacks were too severe. I have similar fears. Is there any research on pregnancy with Xanax? I phoned a hotline once and was told that there's no conclusive evidence that small doses in the first two trimesters were damaging. However, I'd like to hear more. Has anyone ever been pregnant while on Xanax? I'm talking small doses....

eves · Answer

Thank you for the link to the websites and very informative information - it is so great to have the internet - so many people can be reached and not feel isolated.

RGould,MD · Answer

I think you are right in trying to aim to be medication free during the first 16 weeks of your pregnancy.. That is the most certain and safest pathway.   I suggest you give individual therapy a new try...you are of a different age, have strong motivation, and if you get the right therapist, you will be able to master the false imagery that occurs in your mind when get scared or worried and have catastrophic thoughts.  It can work..give it another serious try before you do anything else..

chey101 · Answer

i would think that ativan would be safe during pregnancy. i used to take it because of a panic disorder and they also gave it to me while being pregnant to relax my uterus.
talk to ur doctor about it, it might actually work.
good luck!

Try_to_be_social · Answer

It seems that SSRI antidepressants are safer than xanax in pregnancy. Please refer to http://www.wellmother.com/articles/antidepressants_pregnancy.htm and http://www.mentalhealth.com/drug/p30-x01.html

Panic and Pregnancy

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