SSRIs

[anxious207]

Has anyone taken Zoloft or other SSRIs during pregnancy. If so, did they help? or, Was your baby o.k when born? I have severe anxiety and am unable to take my usual Klonopin for it because it is a class D drug. So my anxiety has turned into OCD and Im afraid soon will be depression. I am only 10 weeks pregnant and fear its going to get worse. I am thinking of taking an SSRI and would appreciate any information on it. Thanks

[LosingMyMindInGA]

I think it's best that you switched doctors.  Any doctor who dismisses your concerns that easily, especially when you have been on meds for anxiety before isn't a very good doctor.  Hopefully this new one will be more inclined to understand and give you some options.  

[anxious207]

Thank you both for your response. I have two days left until I meet with doctor. I had to switch from my old doctor because he told me "anxiety is just a part of pregnancy and to deal with it and take all the Benadryl I wanted" well Benadryl makes me into a zombie and I didnt like the way he dismissed me so easily so I switched doctors and have had to wait to get in to see the new one. The past few weeks have been horrible and now i have been getting these awful nightmares that I cant stop thinking about during the day. I just need some relief. I have been seeing a therapist which has helped tremendously. Thanks

[Shayne1989]

I was also on Celexa, 2 10mg pills a day for 6 months before i got pregnant, as soon as i found out i was pregnant i called my psychiatrist and she told me to go ahead and stop and see how i felt. I've felt fine since then. The best thing to do would to talk to you doctor and see if there are other prescriptions that they have that have been tested during pregnancy to help with anxiety.

[LosingMyMindInGA]

I normally take Zoloft for depression but went off of it when I became pregnant this time.  I was fine in the beginning but the last month or two I've had some days where it's gotten pretty bad. I've toyed with the idea of going back on it but at this point I am able to control my depression for the most part and dont' feel the risks outweigh the benefits.  IF I did feel that it would be more beneficial I would definately go back on it.  

In doing some research the only adverse affect I have found related to zoloft is PPHN (persistant pulmonary hypertension in newborns) it sees from what I have read that while the risks are higher while taking zoloft it's not an extremely common occurance, nor have I found any information on deaths or birth defects related to Zoloft.

I think if your anxiety/ocd are progressing it is probably best to take something to keep it under control.  Especially since it has escalated so early on in the pregnancy.  

I can tell you that I took zoloft while breastfeeding without any complications, but that's not the same as during pregnancy.

[anxious207]

Thank You

[Limonada]

I was taking Citalopram/Celexa (10mg per day) for a year and a bit prior to conceiving my second son last year.  I had health anxiety which is why my GP put me on it.  I did therapy and worked through my problems, enough to feel well enough to go off of the Celexa.  

I had discussed trying to conceive with my doctor and he indicated that it would be better for me to be on the med while TTC - if I felt as though I still needed it.  He said it was "likely" safe to take while TTC and pregnant....but that not enough studies had been done on the topic.  That wasn't good enough for me, I didn't want to be taking it while TTC and pregnant if I could help it.  

Aside from a couple of very minor flare ups of my anxiety that lasted a day or so, I've been fine ever since (knock wood).  Basically, I think the general rule of thumb is that, if you're going to be more unwell if you go off of the med than if you stay on it, even while TTC or pregnant, then it's probably adviseable to remain on the drug.  And you should always wean under the guidance and care of a physician.  

Speak to your doctor about getting you on a drug that is considered "safer" than the Klonopin.  You need to stay healthy for your little bean :-))  

Good luck!!