Needing advice on Medication during pregnancy

Naomi - posted on 08/22/2010

hi, i'm on cipramil and have cut back the dose to half but think tha'ts as far as i am likely to go otherwise i'll lose it (tried going off and wasn't good LOL!!!) My pharmacist said that the biggest things with that particular med is that baby will have some withdrawls when she's born and can be a bit jittery but that's it so the lower dose i can manage the better. Not sure about other meds though. Check with your pharmacist as they now what meds do i was also recommended another natural remedy which you take under the tongue that is supposed to be ok during pregnancy (can't remember what it's called sorry). Good luck

Jessica - posted on 08/18/2010

Ashley... I am glad that you feel better about taking your meds while pregnant... I am not quite sure on the classification on the effexor but I was looking at the different drugs on the FDA's website this morning and if you look at what you are currently taking and what they want you to take the drug names (as in scientific names) are totally different... I know that Provac is safe to take as well as Zoloft (which is what I take)... It still doesn't make sense why they put you on Prozac instead of Zoloft... They could have put you on the same dose you are on now... I take 50mg and that works really well for me... I went on 100mg and that was too much so I asked my ob and he said to go back to the 50mg... Since I have gone back to that I feel better and am much more even as far as that goes... I personally like the Zoloft because it has one of the largest amount of studies and such to back it up... Though I know that one pill doesn't work for everyone (even though that would be great) I love how it works for me... When I went on it and was talking to my family dr about getting something to help with my anxiety and edginess I specifically asked about a med that was safe for pregnancy... At the time I wasn't pregnant yet but in the process of trying to get pregnant... So in preparation for the big event to happen I took all the necessary precautions to ensure that I would not have any problems or have to change meds once I conceived... Hopefully one day I will be able to get off of the meds all together but for now I am content knowing that I am better able to handle things like I should instead of how I did... I wish you all the luck, love and prayers in the world... I also hope that you can get things straightened out for not only your sake but your baby's as well... I am always here to talk... Feel free to message me anytime... TTYL... Joy

Ashley - posted on 08/17/2010

Thank you for the support! It's nice to know I'm not the only one who has to be on depression meds while pregnant. After this last weekend when I tried the new medicine I actually stoped after 2 days and went back to my normal dosage ( because the clinic was closed, I didnt know what else to do). So right now I'm actually taking my normal medicine which is considered a class C by FDA... I'm still waiting to hear back from the nurse again. I'm pretty possitive they weren't looking at my situation right because there's no reason I shouldn't have been weined off. I was taking 150 mg Effexor, and they switched me to 20mg prozac. Not very smart :). I think I will call again today and hopefully we can try to wein myself off of the high dose. I'm HOPING that it will work this time...yesterday I asked the nurse to look at my record with my first pregnancy on what I was taking ( not sure why they didn't think of that) but while I was pregnant with my first, I took Effexor through the whole pregnancy :/ at 150mg. But at that time I didn't really have a choice considering I was really suffering depression and in a bad situation. I'm just so worried that something will go wrong with my baby by taking this, and if it does whether they think it was the meds or not I WILL end up blaming myself.... I guess I will just try to wein off, that's the only thing I can do right now! Thank you :)

Jessica - posted on 08/17/2010

Ashley... There is nothing wrong with taking meds for depression while you are pregnant... I too take meds for the same thing... I don't quite understand why your ob didn't ween you off your previous meds but there must have been a good reason... As for the meds you are on now give them some time to build up in your system... It will get better... I had a problem with my meds when I was first pregnant and stopped taking them because I was so sick and extremely exhausted all the time... I know that sounds funny because when you are first pregnant you are constantly tired but this was so much worse than just pregnancy... So like I said I went off of them... That was the worst thing I could have done because not only was I edgy but I was 10x as sick as before I stopped... I talked to my ob and he said to take them at night so that I would sleep better (due to the extra tiredness)... Since then things have been much better for me and I know that if you stick with it things will get better for you... It is very hard to think that you cannot handle what life is throwing at you without a little extra help... Trust me I know but the thing you have to keep in mind is that it is better to have the extra help and have a healthy mommy than it is to not have it and have a very edgy mommy that absolutely can't handle anything... It is better for your baby that way too... I am one that hates to take meds unless completely necessary but like I said I would rather be healthy and in a good state of mind than the opposite... Try taking a little time to relax when you feel an anxiety attack coming on... Ask your ob about relaxation techniques to try for when you feel like you are losing it... That should help you get through your transition period... Don't forget to take the new meds everyday even if it feels like it isn't working... I will be here to support you and if you need to talk send me a message or write another post... I check everyday to see how everyone is doing... I have been there and still am so I understand... Hope this helps and good luck... Ttyl...Joy

Ashley - posted on 08/16/2010

Has anybody else DEALT with this type of situation... sorry I had quite a few typos :) I'm just looking for some input.... or support? I'm not sure... :)