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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
children and anti-depressants
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD) , bipolar disorder , dementia , electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) , learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) , panic , personality disorders, phobias , post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) , schizophrenia , stress , transitions, and work problems.
children and anti-depressants
by Diane, Jan 17, 2000 12:00AM
I have been on anti-depressants for the majority of the past 5-6 years. I'm getting married and we would like to start a family within the next couple of years. What are the long term affects (if any) of taking anti-depressants and trying to have children??? I worry that I may have trouble getting pregnant due to all the anti-depressant medications I have been on even though I will have stop taking any medications I am on several months before we actually start trying.
Doctor's Answer
by HFHS MD - RG, Jan 17, 2000 12:00AM
It is advisable to be off any psychiatric medication when trying to conceive. The FDA has labeled antidepressants as schedule C drugs meaning that the safety of these medications in pregnancy in humans are unknown.
Regardless on what type of antidepressants you are on, they do not last several months in your system to cause any damage to your developing fetus. Some antidepressants may cause sexual dysfunction while on medication but has no direct relationship in causing infertility
I advise however to consult your psychiatrist to be tapered off adequately so you may not experience any withdrawal effects if stopped abruptly.
Regardless on what type of antidepressants you are on, they do not last several months in your system to cause any damage to your developing fetus. Some antidepressants may cause sexual dysfunction while on medication but has no direct relationship in causing infertility
I advise however to consult your psychiatrist to be tapered off adequately so you may not experience any withdrawal effects if stopped abruptly.
