anxiety and pregnant!!!

[Becki16]

Hello, I was wondering if there are any women out there that have gone through or know anybody that has, having severe panic and anxiety attacks while being pregnant? I have suffered from this disorder all my life and have had 3 other children while not taking anything, just in the last 2 years have I been taking xanex .25 to .5mg a day. I am now pregnant with twins around 8-9 weeks. I am horriably afraid to stop taking these and am also afraid of the side-effects of the drug itself on the babies. I was just wondering if there's anyone out there that has gone through this and if so what advice do you have for me.

[fearfactor]

Hi, I know how you feel!  I have been a life-long anxiety sufferer (ever since I can remember, probably age 5 or so).  I had panic attacks and anxiety while pregnant with both my children.  I took Xanax throughout my last pregnancy, about .5 mg per day.  I was advised by my doctor to stop but I just couldn't do totally without it.  You should know it could possibly cause birth defects, though this risk is low.  Lots of women take Xanax while pregnant.  You should talk to your doctor about it, of course.  I just want you to know you are not alone - I too have struggled with anxiety while pregnant and know how hard it can be!

[debaser23]

Wow.  Easy for me to say, perhaps, but I certainly wouldn't take them.  Even if the risk of birth defects is low, it would be too high for me.

If you take them, please take very small doses.

[medmama]

   Hi, i'm 37 weeks pregnant and although i've had a history of anxiety attacks throughout my life, i didn't start having any until about 8 weeks ago.
   My o.b. and pharmacist recommend to not take xanax, however, every person is different. You may want to ask your o.b. this question "which will cause more damage to my babies, xanax or stress hormones".. I really don't know what his answer will be, because only he will know the severity of your anxiety based on what you tell him. But no matter what, be honest, don't over embellish. Think about your little ones and concentrate on a healthy pregnancy and the attacks will come less frequently. I wish you lots of luck..

[ConcernedFLMom]

I'm on the pill (Ortho-Cyclen) and didn't get my period this month. I'm now officially 2 weeks after my period was supposed to start.  I took at pregnancy test and it said negative.  So I continued my next pack of birth control pills.  Along with that, I suffer from severe anxiety since the birth of our daughter (I had post-partum depression and anxiety).  So I take 1mg Xanax usually before bed- and occasionally .5 during the day.  Now I'm getting paranoid and thinking "what if I am pregnant"?  I'm a nervous wreck thinking that I could have done something.  

[hatgal]

When I became pregnant 2 years ago, I was taking zoloft, wellbutrin, and klonopoin. The doc said to continue taking them as MY side effects would be harmful to the baby (stress, anxiety attacks, etc.).  I never took the klonopin, but continued on the wellbutrin and zoloft.  The baby is FINE!  Maybe you could change the xanax out for klonopin as I believe it is a lesser med.  Best of luck to you.  

[ipz]

I am a mother of 3 and have suffered from anxiety attacks before my first child.  However, during my pregnancies I was anxiety free.  I thought that it was because of the changes in my body.  My last child was born in 2003 and I had continued to live an anxiety free life until July of 2006 when the stress started piling on.  I was prescribed xanax and zoloft to control the attacks.  I refused to take zoloft because of all the horror stories but need to take the xanax as an instant relief.  I find myself living my life scared of losing control and now I am pregnant.  I am affraid because now that the anxiety seems worse will that affect me more now that I am pregnant?

[shell_n_virginia]

I am currrently 7 weeks pregnant.  I had been taking zoloft and klonopin (.5mg) for the past two years for anxiety and panic attacks.  When i found out i was pregnant i stop taking my klonopin as my doctor told me to, if i was every to get pregnant.  But now i am so anxious and have a lot of panic attacks.  I am not sleeping and not eating....which is all bad for the baby.  I want to go back on my klonopin but i don't think my doctor will allow it.  What should i do?

[heartfluttersflyawayplz]

beck congrats on the twins hope you can enjoy your pg and not be stressed the whole time . congrats on everyone pg hope its not in the water lol.

[ocean77]

I am 3 weeks pregnant and have pretty much always had anxiety and panic attacks where I could not catch my breath.  I take xanax as needed, about .50 mg once every other day.  Now that I am pregnant, the panic attacks are coming on really strong and I need the xanax to make them stop. My doctors say that I can not take xanax since it is classified as a category D in pregnancy.  I am so worried about this and not sure what to do next.  Any one have any information that can help me?

[[e-mail]]

I am a anxiety panic attack sufferer for over ten years now. I have had almost a whole year of panic attack free. I just recently found out I was pregnant and I was off my medicine. I went in a total spriral I didn't know what to do. I was only pregnant for five weeks then misscarried. I thought for sure it was because I was anxious. I get the worse butterflies and unreal feelings and at the pit of myh stomach I sometimes feel like I skip a beat sometimes. But I realized that is not why. you can take your medicines maybe not zanx as much as zoloft or fluxotine. But know if something is going to happen its going to because that is gods plan. Dont look on the internet for negative things that will be my goal for the next time I try to get pregnant. Its a stressfull world out there just keep telling yourself you are stronger than everyone else you can't control that you have anxiety but you can control how you want to take care of it. good luck. you are the one who can get yourself through it.

[worrywart75]

i have had anxiety and panic attacks on and off for over 11 years.  it seemed that as soon as i found out that i was pregnant, my anxiety kicked in (i think it was the hormones as well as worrying about the pregnancy itself).  my obgyn put me on zoloft and i was on a rather low dose 75 mg/day and it helped.  i had a handful of panic attacks where my obgyn said that it was ok to take a low dose of xanax.  my son came out just fine - he had mild withdrawal, which is normal, that consisted of him just being a little sleepy for a few hours after he was born.  my husband and i will be trying for baby #2 in a few months and i will remain on zoloft (which is now at 100 mg as i have had a bad month).  
everybody is different and you need to be open and honest with your obgyn b/c you need to take care of yourself and your baby.  you are not alone and don't feel ashamed for asking to get treated.  good luck and i wish you all nothing but the best!

[babylove032572]

I have anxiety everyday.  I try breathing techniques and try to think happy thoughts.  I just found out I'm 6 weeks pregnant and I'm on xanax 2mg a day and lexapro 20mg a day.  My doctor wants me to quit the xanax, but it's hard.  I went down to 1mg of xanax a day trying to wing myself off.  I just don't see how someone can go off these kind of meds cold turkey.  I think the stress I have may be worse on the baby.  Any suggestions or other techniques I could try.

[airsick_mama]

i am 8 weeks pregnant and i usually don't suffer from anxiety until i get on an airplane then i get really sick. Take off and landings are the worse and i have a connecting flight both there and back. That means 4 take offs and 4 landings! The only thing that  helps me not to get violently sick is xanex, my doctor said that i not only do i get motion sickness but i have anxiety when i'm airborn. My doctor said that i shouldn't take xanax because it is a class D drug. But i'm so scared to fly with out them. Would it be ok to take it for my trip? I'm just worried that i'll get so sick and i don't want to go through hell if i can help it. Is there anyone who has taken this while pregnant and did baby turn out ok?

[hopefulmommy2007]

I am pregnant and called my doctor one day in tears