Med's and pregnancy

[Darkestlight]

I know none of u are doctors and can answer my questions in full, but just wanted experiences and opinions.
My new doc put my on Lamictal 25mg then up to 50mg. She said if this doesn't work we might add a small dose of risperidal.....

I am waiting for my OB to call me back so I can let them know whats going on.

I know Lamictal in the first three months of pregnancy can cause cleft palate, but I'm already in my 5th month so.... Yeah.

Any other information, experiences, opinions, or anything at all would be great. I just want to know that I'm making the right decision. I feel so depressed. ugh

[larrysdaughter]

I took Zoloft (I think it was 100 mg) during my entire pregnancy; baby was fine and is now 9

[Darkestlight]

yes, i know risperdal works right away. I've taken it before. I'll probably ask at my next apt, as my psychiatrist isnt in a hurry to put me on it yet, she wants to see if the lamictal will work, but at a low dose like 50mg i dont see it happening. :(

[ILADVOCATE]

If I were you I'd ask about the safety profile of the use of Risperdal in pregnancy now instead of later. Your OB can easily look that up. It will take a few months to build up to a full dose of Lamictal and if you have angry outbursts that get physical your psychiatrist might want you to take Risperdal and then as the Lamictal builds up to a full dose see if you can do without it so that you have full stability in the meantime as Risperdal unlike Lamictal works right away. Risperdal of course has a good mood stabilization effect. They can coordinate about this as well.

[Darkestlight]

Well the only thing Lamictal has been known to cause is cleft palate and its in the first  3 months of pregnancy.... Good news is I'm in month 5 so I'm outta the woods on that one. I spoke to my OB or the nurse and she talked to the docs and called me back. They just told me what I already knew and that it was a low dose so I should be fine. I didn't mention the possibility of them putting me on Risperidal because well they havent done it yet, and maybe I can manage without it. I pray, but I dont think so. My anger out bursts have gotten bad. Like people pushing my buttons, I tried to punch my DH in the face for pushing my buttons. I also pulled a knife on him for cornering me and not letting me away. I wasn't going to hurt him, just wanted him to move. When I get mad I need to get away from the situation and he doesn't understand that. He wants to stay in my face about it.

[ILADVOCATE]

I think a doctor would have to make a final decision. Are you sure Lamictal can cause severe birth defects? There's a lot of misinformation out there on the web. Go to the medication website itself and look at the statistics regarding potential of birth defects. And how common they are. Some medications cause them. Some don't. All prescription labels have them reported in full by law I think your psychiatrist and your OB need to speak with each other ASAP and make a coordinated decision based on their combined knowledge.