Zoloft/Paxil use during and after Pregnancy

I was wondering if anyone is currently PG or breastfeeding and taking either Zoloft or Paxil CR. I am 31 weeks PG and have always suffered from pretty severe anxiety and OCD. I stopped taking Paxil CR prior to PG b/c I was worried about the effects and all of the research/ info seems so inconclusive. At any rate I have suffered with it through most of the PG but have been able to manage. Lately though things are getting rougher and I am having alot of difficulty controlling my emotions, anxiety, OCD and just very anxious in general. I am considered calling my OB tomorrow to discuss going back on meds but I wanted to know if y'all had any personal experiences you could share. I wouldn't do anything to cause damage to the baby but I am just having an extreme amount of difficulty coping and getting through daily life which I also know is not good for the baby. My DH is also really having a hard time dealing with me and I feel like our relationship is suffering. Even if I can stick it out for the next 8 or so weeks I feel sure I will need meds after delivery but i desperately want to breast feed. Any advice, suggestions, stories would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[sallie05]

Thank you all for the insight. I really appreciate your feedback and I plan on calling my OB in the am. I just really want to enjoy the rest of my pregnancy as well as enjoy her after she is born without all of the anxiety, mood swings, etc.

[myproblem]

My Dr. told me that Zoloft was okay for me during pg. My dose was only 50mg to help me sleep though. As it turned out, I'm so exhausted from pg that I haven't needed it. It is a category C though, which basically means that it hasn't been studied very much in pg women.

[AndiJ78]

I am not sure about zoloft, but they are considering a black box (if they haven't already) on Paxil and pg. The research is not inconclulsive anymore...it is almost to the point that you guarantee heart defects if taken, especially in early pg. My cousin is a pharmacist and there has been a lot of buzz about it over the last year.

Here is my recommendation, running it past your OB is not enough, in addition, consult with a psychiatrist AND a pharmacist. In this case, three heads are way better than one.

Andi

[fishka]

I am currently taking Zoloft, 75mg/day and my doc said that there have been studies to suggest that babies show some signs of withdrawl (withdrawal) when they are born.  I am not sure of the dosage that study was talking about, but my doc seemed to think that it was okay.  Also i had a friend who is a nurse ask an OB and she said that he felt that if you were going to take it it would be best in the beginning and then go off of it in the third trimester.  I have the same question as you, because i suffer from significant anxiety and depression, is it worse for the baby to have these in their system or suffer the effects of my anxiety?  I know that if you google zoloft and pregnancy you can find articles that might help you.  I hope any of this helped at least a little.

[kierstynsmommy]

hi, i dont take paxil or zoloft, but i have been taking prozac for severe mood swings since the 2nd trimester in my first pregnancy, and i breast fed for 3 months.  I think at the time i was on like 10mg of it.  The doctors told me not to take it while breastfeeding, but i asked  my ob/gyn and he said that it was such a low dose, that there was nothing to worry about...My baby didnt seem to mind, nor did she have withdraws. I think you will be just fine in taking your meds.  I know i am like 6 weeks pg and i am still taking my meds...everything will be ok!

[AnnieBrooke]

Hi, hon, I'm on a small amount of Zoloft.  Although it is not recommended, it is "class C," meaning they just haven't got enough research to guarantee it is safe.  That said, my high-risk ob was not bothered to hear that I take it, and I do know it is the one that they will put you on when preggers if they take you off of other ssri's.  The dose I'm on is 50 mg a day 5 days a week (I skip Wednesday and Sunday).  Talk to your doc.  The other thing my high-risk doc said is that I might need to up the dose as I get more pregnant, because I'll be pumping two times the blood volume by then and it will get diluted!

[neparker]

I take Paxil and both my children turned out 100% perfect!

[AndiJ78]

You are lucky, it really has become a major issue in recent past. It will always be a risk versus benefit type situation, not enough is known about any of the meds with regards to pregnancy. Be cautious with anything you take.

Andi

[Fanni]

I would suggest that if you can hold out for 8 more weeks then hold out. You would really regret it for the rest of your life if your baby did suffer from adverse reactions due to antideppresant use during your pregnancy. You can always go on the medication after the baby is born and give him/her formula.....there is nothing wrong with that!!!!!!!!!
Good luck and keep your head up. You will be having this baby soon anough!