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TRYING TO CONCIVE BABY WILL PROZAC HARM MY PREGNANCY OR BABY?
I AM TRYING TO HAVE A BABY. I JUST STARTED TRYING CONCEIVE A BABY. SHOULD I STOP THE PROZAC, I JUST STARED, BUT I NEED THE PROZAC VERY BADLY. WILL THE PROZAC HARM MY PREGNANCY OR MY BABY. WOULD I BE SAFE TAKING IT? I AM VERY CONFUSED, I NEED ADVICE, PLEASE.
THANK YOU ALL FOR LISTENING. I WILL TALK 2 MY DOCTOR. I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR ADVICE. THANK YOU SO MUCH, IT HELPED ALOT!!
WOW 10 years ago when I was having my son ,I started having major depression it started around 10 weeks I had tried for two years to conceive I went thru alot to get pregnant then boom bad depression ,My OB prescribed me prozac and he wanted me to take it though out my pregnancy ,I was afraid too so i used to pick up the scripts but never take the meds now I am gald reading this .
Yes it can. I care for a child whose mom was on prozac while preg. and the child is has mild MR and seizures. The prozac was looked at as a possible cause although not known for certain what caused it. I wouldn't chance it.
In 1996, a study was published that suggested worse outcomes for the babies of women who continued fluoxetine usage during the last trimester of pregnancy [3]. They included 73 exposed infants and found higher rates of early delivery, smaller babies, increased risk of breathing problems and feeding difficulties, and more admissions to the neonatal intensive care unit.
Criticisms of the interpretation of the results of this paper followed [5,6] with particular reference to the fact that the women who continued with fluoxetine probably included those who had more severe depressive illness, and there is already evidence that this alone is a risk factor for worse perinatal outcome. In addition, one of the letters included data on 123 women who continued to use fluoxetine throughout pregnancy, and their outcome was no different to the controls (those who didn't use prozac) of the original study.
There is further reassurance from two other studies which find no increase in problems when fluoxetine is continued into the third trimester. One paper contained 115 exposed infants and looked at differences in early neonatal problems [7], and the other contained 55 exposed infants and examined developmental differences in terms of IQ and language development up to age 7 [8].
Obviously it is important to try and limit the exposure of the developing fetus to drugs, but depressive illness is likely to return if treatment is stopped and uncontrolled depression has its own problems. When fluoxetine is being used for anything more than mild depression, one must weigh up the pros and cons of discontinuing treatment during pregnancy.
Breastfeeding
With regard to breastfeeding and the use of Prozac, there is very little in the published literature to guide. Fluoxetine has a long half-life and it may accumulate in the infant. There is no evidence to reassure that breastfeeding is safe and as one paper puts it, it should be a case-specific, risk-benefit decision. There are other antidepressants, such as the tricyclics (eg. amitriptyline), which do not accumulate in the infant, and with which there is more published experience.
Criticisms of the interpretation of the results of this paper followed [5,6] with particular reference to the fact that the women who continued with fluoxetine probably included those who had more severe depressive illness, and there is already evidence that this alone is a risk factor for worse perinatal outcome. In addition, one of the letters included data on 123 women who continued to use fluoxetine throughout pregnancy, and their outcome was no different to the controls (those who didn't use prozac) of the original study.
There is further reassurance from two other studies which find no increase in problems when fluoxetine is continued into the third trimester. One paper contained 115 exposed infants and looked at differences in early neonatal problems [7], and the other contained 55 exposed infants and examined developmental differences in terms of IQ and language development up to age 7 [8].
Obviously it is important to try and limit the exposure of the developing fetus to drugs, but depressive illness is likely to return if treatment is stopped and uncontrolled depression has its own problems. When fluoxetine is being used for anything more than mild depression, one must weigh up the pros and cons of discontinuing treatment during pregnancy.
Breastfeeding
With regard to breastfeeding and the use of Prozac, there is very little in the published literature to guide. Fluoxetine has a long half-life and it may accumulate in the infant. There is no evidence to reassure that breastfeeding is safe and as one paper puts it, it should be a case-specific, risk-benefit decision. There are other antidepressants, such as the tricyclics (eg. amitriptyline), which do not accumulate in the infant, and with which there is more published experience.
I totally understand depression! It can be worse than anything. If you are depressed, you might want to wait until you get the depression under control with meds and/or therapy before getting pregnant. You may also be at a higher risk for severe post-partum depression. Speaking as someone who has been there, you really need to find out why you are depressed. I didn't realize that the way my husband treated me was making me feel depressed until I had some serious therapy. I "thought" I was happy enough. In retrospect, I was seriously unhappy. After I had my baby I went on Prozac and it helped me a lot.
As far as Prozac and pregnancy below is official information regarding pregnancy and Prozac.
Prozac (SSRI antidepressant) may cause serious or life-threatening lung problems in newborn babies whose mothers take the medication during pregnancy. However, you may have a relapse of depression if you stop taking your antidepressant during pregnancy. If you are planning a pregnancy, or if you become pregnant while taking fluoxetine, do not stop taking the medication without first talking to your doctor. Fluoxetine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby
I wish you the best - mentally and physically!
As far as Prozac and pregnancy below is official information regarding pregnancy and Prozac.
Prozac (SSRI antidepressant) may cause serious or life-threatening lung problems in newborn babies whose mothers take the medication during pregnancy. However, you may have a relapse of depression if you stop taking your antidepressant during pregnancy. If you are planning a pregnancy, or if you become pregnant while taking fluoxetine, do not stop taking the medication without first talking to your doctor. Fluoxetine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby
I wish you the best - mentally and physically!
Roger that Jacqui.
I don't blame you Country7 for being confused... such a hard decision to make (it would be for me). And sounds like a lot of pros and cons will have to be weighed out.
I don't blame you Country7 for being confused... such a hard decision to make (it would be for me). And sounds like a lot of pros and cons will have to be weighed out.
You're right about the category, but there's more to it as well....the category specifies a bit more than that though...so, it still stands that if it's absolutely necessary to give, only then should it be given....
Well I'll consider it an oppurtunity to learn something. lol
I was taught that Pregency Category C meant that may be some risks with it, but those risks are sometimes not as high as the risk of not using the medication. So I thought it's just one of those gray areas. Of course things change fast in the medical field and with medication warnings/studies and I'm not up to date on what those risks are.
I was taught that Pregency Category C meant that may be some risks with it, but those risks are sometimes not as high as the risk of not using the medication. So I thought it's just one of those gray areas. Of course things change fast in the medical field and with medication warnings/studies and I'm not up to date on what those risks are.
I'm not an RN, I'm an LPN....you know a "lower paid nurse"...Don't get offended y'all... just joshin'... : )
SableZen, you don't stand a chance when you up against 2 RNs LOL
Your point about just getting off is good. Depression is real and needs to be addressed. And just quitting is never a good idea.
Your point about just getting off is good. Depression is real and needs to be addressed. And just quitting is never a good idea.
Definitely don't listen to me about what is safe or not (thanks for pointing that out) when it comes to specific medications - and definitely talk to a doctor about something so important.
I guess I really just wanted to point out that discontinuing an anti-depressant has it's downside as well and is something to consider.
I guess I really just wanted to point out that discontinuing an anti-depressant has it's downside as well and is something to consider.
THAT was why i was suggesting she go to her ob/gyn to change to a safer ssri. prozac is not a safe drug for pregnancy. thank you for pointing that out. i should have been more specific.
The thing to be aware of here, is not necessarily the class of drug it is, when it comes to pregnancy, but the Pregnancy Labeling itself, that is, that this drug in particular is a Pregnancy Category C drug...the FDA sets up what each category means, specifically, as to recommendations for prescribing. This drug, is a teratogenic drug, and it should only be given if absolutely necessary.
in my post above i never mentioned stopping prozac. i suggested you speak with your physician for a safer SSRI. there are plenty.
This is a tough question. I'm a guy and not a doctor - but wanted to respond with something you may not have thought about. I think generally, it's said that SSRI's (which Prozac is) are considered 'safe' drugs during pregnancy. But there is a *very* small increased risk of pulmonary hypertension for the baby. So many mothers decide to be on the safe side and discontinue taking their depression medication.
But consider, if you discontinue your depression medication you are going to have to deal with being depressed. This increases your stress levels, you might not eat properly or take care of yourself as well, etc... all the things that being depressed cause. They all have risks as well that may be greater than the risk of taking the medication.
So if you decide to discontinue, make sure you take care of yourself (easier said than done I know)...
But consider, if you discontinue your depression medication you are going to have to deal with being depressed. This increases your stress levels, you might not eat properly or take care of yourself as well, etc... all the things that being depressed cause. They all have risks as well that may be greater than the risk of taking the medication.
So if you decide to discontinue, make sure you take care of yourself (easier said than done I know)...
It's not recommended to take during pregnancy...can cause lung problems in newborns if you've taken it, BUT you also shouldn't just stop this medication, AND YOU shouldn't be just making this decision on your own. Talk with an ob/gyn about this, 'cause it's always a good idea when you're trying to conceive to go anyway and get started on prenatal vitamins.
prozac is one of the medications that may need to be changed if you are planning to conceive or are in your first trimester of pregnancy. there are other medications in this drug class they may want to switch you to. you need to set up a prenatal appointment and discuss this before you get pregnant. it will clear up any doubt and pass the worry away.
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