Pregnancy and Zoloft

I have been reading all the posts about Zoloft and pregnancy and I have to say that you are making me feel more comfortable. I currently take 25mg of Zoloft for Panic/Anxiety disorder. I have also been in therapy for over a year. It has been helping to teach me how to cope. Still can't fly, take a train or get stuck in traffic. I guess it is a little claustrophobia? My husband and I have been trying for our second child and I am wondering if the Zoloft is going to be ok. With my son I was nuerotic about taking nothing. I mean, not even Tylenol for a headache. That makes me worry that I am not giving my second child the same start that I gave my first. My mother is also giving me an earful about taking it during pregnancy. I have explained to her all that I have read but she still has fears. Which, is making me even more stressed and anxious. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Even articles I can direct my mother to in order to give her an insight and make her more supportive of my decision.

[spade22]

-sounds like agoraphobia rather than claustrophobia.  Agoraphobia is the fear of being "stuck" in a situation that you might be able to "escape" from easily rather than fear of a small, enclosed space (although that can also be part of agoraphobia).  Do a Google search on this and see what you think.

There certainly ARE medications that you can take for anxiety/panic disorder during pregnancy.  Zoloft, prozac, and lexapro and three examples.  Most of these are best avoided during the 1st trimester though and some babies suffer from withdrawal for a day or two after birth so some doctors recommend you tapper to a certain dose near the end of the 3rd trimester.  You can also take "vistaril" for panic attacks during pregnancy - its the "pregnancy-safe" version of Xanax (isnt as potent but will do the trick).

I HIGHLY recommend you make an appointment with an OBGYN and discuss your situation with them before attempting to become pregnant - find a doctor that is willing to work with you.  They can best advice you on the best medication you can take while pregnant etc.  25mg of Zoloft is a pretty low dose so should cause any problems but the doctor may prefer to put you on Prozac because the effects of this are ore established than some of the newer SSRIs.

In summary, there ARE medications you can take while pregnant for anxiety disorders but it is best to discuss your options with a OBGYN to devise the best treatment plan for your unique situation.

[Mandy212]

Thank you so much for your advice. My husband and I have been trying for 2 months. I am showing the signs, I believe, of being pregnant. The thought of ground beef makes me want to vomit and my chest is horribly sore. It's been 5 years but I think I remember! I always associated agoraphobia with fear of leaving my house. However, your explanation makes sense. I have talked to my OB as well as my family doctor about Zoloft prior to trying to conceive. They both gave me a thumbs up especially considering the low dose that I am on. I appreciate the advice on vistaril. I have not had a full blown panic attack in almost a year but I always have a fear that one will sneak up on me. I have learned to ride it through if I feel uncomfortable or I remove myself from an uncomfortable situation. The more I make myself deal with these situations, the better I feel. I carry Xanax in my purse but haven't touched it. I just feel comfortable having it there. It will be nice to have something there "just in case". I know that panic attacks won't kill you but sometimes they just feel horrible! Again, thank you for the advice. Pending my pregnancy test outcome I am making an appt to see my OB. Again, she already said she feels more than comfortable to have me on such a low dose. If fact, she referred to it as, "the salt lick" because it is so low. She has quite a sense of humor.

[spade22]

I have agoraphobia and now have a 10.5 month old daughter and I can relate to EVERYTHING you have mentioned in your post - thats why I suggested you look into agoraphobia because you describe it to a tee.

In my case it really helped just knowing I had something I could take if I had a PA - Xanax shouldnt be taken during pregnancy because it is a Class D drug (has been associated w/ causing negative effects on fetus) but vistaril is just fine.  Its used for other things during pregnancy too such as allegies and as a sleep aide and can be used during labor/C-section to calm moms nerves.

Feel free to PM me if you want to talk more about any of this.

Take care.

[Mandy212]

Speaking to you is bringing a wave of calm over me that I can't thank you enough for! I am new to the forum/blogging/etc. You have to educate me as to what "PM" means. I would love to chat with you. I feel so much better speaking to someone who knows what I deal with. I just chatted with a woman locally who told me that she took her medication all through her pregnancy and would do it again. Fill me in about PM and I will send you a message. Again, I can't thank you enough!

[spade22]

PM = private message.

Click on my name and to the right of the screen you will see "leave note", "leave message", "add as friend".  If you click on "leave message" that will enable you to send me a private message if you want to correspond that way.  "leave note" enables one to leave a note on another members Medhelp  homepage which is visible to others.

By the way, I work full time and try to get on here when I have a chance so dont always respond straight away but I do respond.

[jessbbg]

Mandy---my OB put me on Zoloft during my pregnancy after they started to notice signs of depression (i have SAD) and when they realized I was really high risk for post partum depression... My ex was a selfish jerk and they knew he wasn't making things easier, lol, plus all my family was a thousand+ miles away.  So i didn't have a good support network.  

It was awesome.  It helped me get control of my emotions.  And my son is now being tested for the gifted program at his school, and has just been promoted early in his martial arts program.  So there's been zero adverse effects!  

Honestly, if I were you, I just wouldn't tell my mother if she was giving me grief about it.  There are some people in some situations in your life that are toxic to it, and you've just got to say "ok, you're out"... obviously not out of your life, but out of that part of it.  If she can't support you, and is instead making things harder, then she can't be involved in that part of you.

That's just my take.  I wish I learned that sooner, but I learned it better for all the hardship I endured without it.  

[ladybugbob1029]

Hi!  I was on 50mg of Zoloft for the last 3 years (i think) for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).  I have severe anxiety and sometimes panic attacks for any reason - not just one thing that triggers it.  I stayed on it through the first two trimesters of my pregnancy.  And I had the support of my OB and my GP.  There are risks, but that is with anything.  Like you said Tylenol has risks.  My dr's considered 50mg a really low dose, so I know that 25mg would be considered low.  I wish I had saved the research my dr. gave me, but it listed out how Zoloft breaks down in your body and how the lower the mg the lower the amount gets to baby.  But, trust me, it was very very low amt for 50mg so I know it is really low for 25mg.  My dr. said that if i was going to try to go off of it that it would be good to be off by the 3rd trimester so that by the time baby gets ready to deliver it wouldn't be in his system anymore.  And of course that I could always go back on it.  I have been off since the beginning of March, and I have my moments and days, but I'm doing really well.  But, being anxious all the time is worse on your baby than taking the meds bc of the stress hormones, so don't feel bad if you need it.  In the long run a calm mama will be better on the baby.

[ladybugbob1029]

Oh, and I agree with jess.  Sometimes you have to decide that people can't be a part of certain parts of your life if they are only going to cause you (and not to mention your child) stress.  I have done it plenty and will not hesistate to do it again!  Like she said - you don't have to cut them out compeletely, just out of the areas where they cause you pain and hardship.  Best wishes!

[Mandy212]

You ladies are awesome!!!! My first panic attack came out of absolutely nowhere. Well, the first one I recognized. I was sitting in a meeting for work with clients and all of the sudden I had that wave. I excused myself, went to the bathroom and thought "what the hell was that?!" That is when the doc put me on Lexapro. I was really on that for a few months. I then took a much more stressful job. I woke up one night in the middle of a horrible panic attack. At that point my doc put me on Zoloft. I have always wanted some space between my kids. My brother and I are 6 years apart as well as my husband and his sister. I was fearful for a long time to carry another baby. Not sure why because my son's pregnancy was very easy and his delivery and birth textbook. I think that is why I was nervous. I am a self proclaimed coffee addict and didn't drink a sip during pregnancy! I think a tear formed in my eye everytime I drove by a Dunkin Donuts. I have been doing wonderfully on Zoloft. I have my times but I have learned that it won't kill me and it will pass. I haven't taken Xanax since last August. I have decided to stay on Zoloft during pregnancy. That is that. I did speak with my mother briefly about it. For some unknown reason I just feel like I have to justify it to her. Surprisingly, she told me it's my decision. (I cried to my Dad and I think that he intervened) I am so glad that I stumbled across this site. You have made me feel 110% better about everything.

[2ndchild1sttimemom]

I am 34 weeks pregnant and I was on 10 mg.Lexapro for 2 months for my depression/ anxiety, then I started getting worse and I am now on 50 mg. zoloft. My ob/gyn says it is fine for me to continue to take it, but I am not sure now  that I am 34 weeks and after reading comments about women having there babies come out with breathing problems. I am not sure what to do, will someone please help answer this question. Is it safe this far along in my pregnancy?

[Mandy212]

I am the original gal who posted this. Now I am 29 weeks pregnant and have been taking my 25mg of Zoloft the whole time. I expressed such concern to my OB (who does not have the concern) and she agreed to send me to Maternal Fetal Medicine to have my first ultrasound. Everything was great! I have had two ultrasounds since and according to my high risk doc and my OB, she is perfect! No issues at all. Anything you do during pregnancy can be a risk. Heck, I tripped over a chair this morning and almost fell! Relax. Your baby is fully developed, just preparing to make their entrance. Stress is very harmful to not only you, but also your baby. I found that it is more important to me to keep that stress to a minimum. I still have my moments, trust me, but if I feel the need I simply remove myself from the situation as quickly as possible, compose myself, and go right back in. If I can't, I can't and I leave. Don't put any more pressure on yourself, do what makes you feel comfortable. In my opinion, you are fine. However, if you need to chat I am here!