Taking Anti-depressants while Pregnant

i was really worried about post natal depression given that i have been on anti-ds since i was 13 and whenever iwould try come off them it was a fast spiral downwards. I have anxiety attacks which land me in hospital for at least a week or more. I was quite worried about it - how would i look as a mother if i kept having anxiety attacks. During pregnancy i got real paranoid (thought they'd take my baby etc). Then after bubs was born i forgot to take my pills for a couple days. This would normally have resulted in my close friends and family asking if i was tkaing my meds (because it was so obvious when i wasn't) but no one did. So i went to my dr and explained this and decided to come off them and have been off them since.
i would just like to add that my baby boy did need oxygen at birth but he was 4weeks early. So either of these could have contributed. He was fine after that though and didn't need any more help.
All the best

I think thats my biggest fear really. My partner knows I can spin out, he knows how to deal with it, but a baby won't understand, nor do they have any control over it. Usually getting worked up increases your blood pressure which is dangerous to baby.
I think it is generally best to stay on your medications since pregnancy is such a hormonal ride.

loulee wrote: I get alot of anxiety in the evenings and take amintrip 50mg to help me sleep then slowly releases during the day to help with the enxiety (its for dp also but dont suffer from that). I went to the doc and are supposed to start cutting down and weening myself off them. The doctor said that so far they dont know if there are any side effects on bubs so it would be a risk with anything like that when you are pregnant.. i would love to come off them but at the same time it might sound silly but i worry if when im pregnant and have anxiety attacks that this might upset bubs... anyone else thought this?

I remember being on amitrip for a while (seems I've been on a few different varieties) they also gave me clonazapam was on sleeping pills for over a year and I think diazapam, then went on the citolopram then venafaxiline which I am still on. Actually coming off sleeping pills was easy which was so weird as I have always suffered from sleep disorders because of the anxiety. I had it from the time I woke up (I used to wake up feeling sick) to the time the drugs kicked in at night. Anxiety is all I have known really so coming off them is a bit scary considering councillor had told me I would probably be on them for the rest of my life. It's bizarre to understand all the chemicals inside the brain. Of course you worry about the ttc causing anxiety, I guess it's just something you cope with.
I've got another dtrs appointment next week to discuss have cut down to 37.5 mg every 2 days. Sorry for long post.

Has anyone ever been on a dosage of AD's, been really good for a few months and then oneday just flipped out really badly, like worse than ever before?

I did that a few weeks ago. I use to be on 20mg of Fluox but have been put up to 40mg of Fluox, been really good for 6 weeks, not fighting at home, no staying awake, no anger, anxiety, nothing. Then me and DP got into this conversation, things were taken the wrong way, things were said and I just lost it, tried to put my fist through a wall, screaming and throwing punches. DP had to restrain me until I settled down. Poor thing freaked out, he has a few bruises where I got him.

It was really scary and like I had no control of it. Just fueled by rage over nothing really for no apparent reason. And I'd like to know, has anyone else experienced this? Is it possible if your dosage is too high it can send you over and above any issues you had before, making things worse?

It's at this point I'm slightly glad that this is pretty much an annonymous forum, cause for anyone who knows me, they're probably scared of me now and think I'm just a fruit loop.

Amstaff I think anybody that has ever experienced Aor D atleast has some comprehension of what others go through, I mean I don't judge anybody. I've never had the anger at somebody else, my anger has always been directed at myself. Over the years I put up huge walls faked emotions and covered it all up with drugs and alcohol. I used to self harm. God looking back it makes me feel ashamed the way I used to treat myself that I expected others to treat me the same way. The positive thing is that I have come a hell of a long way and I'm not that person anymore. However, I feel it's still lurking underneath at times(almost like being an alcoholic fearing a relapse) ie when I get upset it goes through my mind about self harm, but it's only for a fleeting moment. I think it's just taking a big breath and working through the moment.

Isn't it wonderful to be loved and accepted. My DH never saw that side of me as I had sorted 'issues' out by then ha ha he was my reward and I couldnt have asked for better. All my relationships previously were damaging ones, so I really had to have a good look at myself and make some changes. I took a year out from relationships when my mother was terminally ill as I just couldnt handle anyone else causing me extra grief. Glad it paid off.

Yep I know what you are saying. During that year I was also doing real estate, and left that due to wanting to spend time with Mum so was doing temping jobs. It was such a life change for me that at that time I was careful who I let in my life, as it was there were a few comings and goings on if you know what I mean. Still, well and truely happy so it's all in the past. Lets look forward to happy and healthy pregnancies-BRING IT ON!!!!

I went to see my GP the day after I found out I was pregnant to speak to him re the ADs and being pregnant. He told me that any major harm would be done in the first 6 weeks - and by that stage I was nearly 7, so have just continued. I have to be honest, with the MS I have had I haven't taken them every day, but getting back onto it now.

*wishing you all lots of baby dust*