Taking Anti-depressants while Pregnant

I was kind of shocked to not find a forum already going on this. Perhaps people just don't talk about it.

I'm on Anti-Depressants, have been on and off them for 2 years or so but am now on them permanently, and I'm ok with that.
I am TTC and my GP has just told me I should consider coming off my Anti-D's because they could harm the baby. Although there are no known side effects, he said it is traditional to not put anything into your body when pregnant cause it may harm the baby.

Is there anyone out there who is pregnant and taking Anti-D's? Or has had a child while on Anti-D's?
Did you or your baby have any side effects from them? What did your Midwife have to say about it?

I'm worried because I don't want to harm my future child but coming off the pills is not a safe option for me.

I wen to my doc when we started TTC and I was on anti depressents - she sent me to maternity mental health and they changed my pills to another one - there are certan AD's you cant take whilst TTC or preg and they just change you toa diff one which wont harm the baby. The change was easy for me and i acually feel better now from changing......

when i was pregnant i asked the same thing. Dont know what med your on but i was on cytalipram (probably spelt wrong). They said that there was no risk to bubs. Also the risk of me going off them would out weigh any small risks anyway. I was having anxiety attacks and would wind up in hospital etc so that would not have been good while pregnant. Something you may be interested to know is that since having my baby i stopped taking the meds when he was a month old (weaned slowly obviously) and have been doing fine. Before if i missed a day it was awful. The change in my hormones from pregnancy and birth has been for the better. So good luck. My big advice would be ask as many questions as you need to until you feel completely comfortable with the situation.

I'm on 40mg of Fluoxatine. The study I've done on the net and asking my friend who is a qualified Chemist, says there are no known side effects with this medication to baby. But I guess once I do get Pregnant I will ask my Midwife straight away and if I need to change to something else I will.
Coming off them is not an option for me. Not in the near future anyway. I've tried coming off them a few times before (weaning off them as directed by my GP) and I spiral down pretty quick and it's hard on me and everyone around me while I go down then try to claw my way back up again.

Hi AmStaff

I have taken fluox off and on for about 10years, went back on fluox (20mg) while pregnant with #2 and also continued taking them while breastfeeding. My Dr (who specialises in mental health) said it would be fine, and much better for baby that mum is is good mindframe.

Good luck!

I was on citolopram and i found it hard to fall pregnant. I eventually became pregnant and miscarried at 9 weeks. I really want a baby so i stoped taking them and in about 4 weeks i was expecting again. I feel so much better now and im glad i stoped when i did.

I was trying to concieve before I started back on my AD's, so the fact that I'm still not pregnant doesn't have anything to do with the AD's I don't think.

Good on you for being able to come off of them. Unfortunately for me it is a hereditary issue that I cannot seem to keep stable control of without the AD's.

My partner did ask though, does anyone think, that because the AD's give you extra Ceratonin (spelling?) would that possibly affect your baby? For example, they are being given extra Ceratonin, so then their own Ceratonin making gland doesn't work as hard, therefore causing clinical depression later in life?
Does that make sense?

My lilypie signature keeps showing up to me as just text and not the picture?

Anyone know how to put it on properly?

Bunny wrote: JamyzonlyJaz - it is awesome that you managed to stop taking them and that you feel so much better now, I wish I could but every time I try I have anxiety attacks and get completely paranoid.

WARNING TMI!!!!!!!!!!! AND LONG POST - SORRY!
Bunny I can sympathise. I've been on and off AD's and AA's all related to childhood and then further issues as an adult. I have been on AD's since mid 20's so have been more used to being on them rather than not. I was on Aropax for years then got switched to Citolopram. About 2 years ago I thought I would go off them but I ended up going into D, I think this was really the fact that we had just come back from aussie on the last family holiday with my mum, dad and sis (mum was terminally ill), and I came out of denial that she was dying. The doctor then switched me to Venafaxline due to extreme anxiety etc. I was told by my councillor that I'd always be on AD's or AA's due to my history. I always used to feel bad that I had to have them, that there must be something wrong with me. She told me it is just like those people who are diabetic and have to have insulin, I needed the chemical that AD's or AA provide. Although I am weaning myself off now with doctors approval I'm still getting a few side effects just like a dizzy head as the chemicals get depleted. I'll just have to monitor myself a we all know TTC is stressful and there are a number of anxiety triggers for me.

Asicsgirl I got those side effects too - especially when I was tired. If they got too bad I'd go back to my previous dose for another week and then drop down again (dropped 1/4 of pill each week). The weirdest one was right at the end when I could 'hear' myself blink.

I was on Loxamine btw.

Edited by Bobbie