Citalopram
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Category: Have A Baby?
Forum Name: First baby? Second or more?
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URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=41435
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Topic: Citalopram
Posted By: Charty
Subject: Citalopram
Date Posted: 28 January 2012 at 8:19am
| Hi, I'm one week in after having my first baby. Feel up and down, with mild anxiety. My doc has prescribed citralopram but reading all the side affects I'm a bit scared to go on it. I'm not sure my symptoms are severe enough to take it either. Wondering if I should just tough it out for a while and see if it gets better on it's own. I don't want to go through the adjustment period of going on it esp increased anxiety, sleepiness. I don't want to not feel myself. Any advice from people in similar situation or who've been on it? I just want to feel like myself again, have always been quite up and down and anxious but don't want to be on drugs then scared to come off them! help! |
Replies:
Posted By: BikeBaby
Date Posted: 28 January 2012 at 1:54pm
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Are you breastfeeding? I would ask your pharmacist to double check you are able to take it. I was on citalopram and amitripalyn when I got pregnant and had to stop the citalopram immediately. I took amitrip till I was 28 weeks and had been weened off it by then.
I am now breastfeeding bubs and am back on amitrip but my doc wouldn't put me back on citalopram. If your not breastfeeding then should be fine. I personally didn't have any side effects with citalopram. Ask your doc if you could start on a low dose and increase if needed. If you are not comfortable taking the drugs perhaps you could ask your doctor to refer you to maternity mental health. They will give you a case worker who will come and visit and talk with you about how to cope etc. My case worker was lovely! IMHO one week in is a bit early for doc to be prescribing medication ... having a baby is a very emotional thing! I hope you feel better soon. If you would like to know more about what the maternity mental health visitor did for me feel free to PM me. Follow your gut instict ... it's usually right! Good luck and I hope you feel better soon  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: ScaredyKat
Date Posted: 29 January 2012 at 8:34am
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My Dr told me it was fine to take citalapram while breastfeeding, it has an "A" rating, which means no known side effects for the bubs. I had anxiety with my son, and was down and cried a lot. However, I only went on it about three months in which is really too late. I wouldn't leave it THAT long, but one week is quite short so if you feel comfortable waiting to see how you go, I would do that. It may just pass as I think most first time mums find it all a bit anxious making! Make sure you have lots of support (if possible) and try to get as much sleep as you can (that was a major trigger for me).
PS I did have side effects but not everyone does. For me the first few weeks i had increased anxiety, but then life got soooooooooooooooo much better
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Posted By: SeasideMama
Date Posted: 30 January 2012 at 10:17am
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Hey Charty, congrats on your bubs!
I was on citalopram 3 months after having my baby. It was prescribed as the safest anti-depressant to have while breastfeeding. I have come off it now as I'm pregnant again but otherwise would have weaned myself off after I'd been on for 12months (recommended if you are well again). Just a couple of thoughts though. It seems quite early to be prescribing PND as often your hormones can take several weeks to calm down after the birth etc. Also sleep deprivation is tough to handle and can often manifest in anxiety, sadness etc. I would perhaps wait a week or two more (unless you are having thoughts of self harm/harm to others) to see if you start to feel better. If you don't then I would definitely say go for it. Citalopram, unlike some other medications, works to sustain the natural positive chemicals your body creates and ensures they stay around longer than usual to help you feel more stable/calm. I had a few nights (two/three) where I felt more wired/alert than usual and that was the only side effect I had when going on them. Within a week I felt much better, although it can take several weeks for some people to see results. All the best with your decision and feel free to get a second opinion from a medical professional if you are unsure. Services like Maternal Mental Health are there for people who need them! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: snugglebug
Date Posted: 30 January 2012 at 9:32pm
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I am currently on citalopram and I haven't had any side effects at all, I feel really good on it. So I think if your doctor thought you needed it, you should give it a try and see how you go, you might just find it makes things that little bit easier to cope with. For me it makes me feel less up and down, more stable and even. I couldn't have managed those early months without it. If you want to chat to people who have been through it come to the PND section lots of ladies on there who have come out the other side :) ------------- Me 28, DH 29 DS born 20 Nov 2010 (4 years old) #2 due October 7 http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: snugglebug
Date Posted: 30 January 2012 at 9:34pm
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To the above, my PND definitely had kicked in by week 2 so it is possible ------------- Me 28, DH 29 DS born 20 Nov 2010 (4 years old) #2 due October 7 http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: Sharlene28
Date Posted: 01 February 2012 at 1:18pm
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I found citalopram somewhat helpful for my anxiety although I find Prozac works much better for me.
I took citalopram during the third trimester of my first baby and Prozac throughout the whole pregnancy with my second. Nothing was said to me about either drug not being ok to take during breastfeeding either. Both my boys were big, healthy babies. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: ScaredyKat
Date Posted: 01 February 2012 at 8:44pm
| How are you getting on Charty? |
Posted By: Charty
Date Posted: 02 February 2012 at 6:59pm
| Hi I'm ok two days on a whole tablet was a shock so down to 1/2 tablet now. Still feel really nervous, anxious, no apetite. I hope it kicks in soon, I'm just so worried it's going to be like this forever. |
Posted By: BikeBaby
Date Posted: 03 February 2012 at 8:21am
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Hey Charty
Hang in there, it wont be like this forever I promise! The first 6-8 weeks are the hardest with bub, you will both settle into each other, your body will get used to the medication and you will be amazed one day when you go to bed at night (for the whole 3hrs or so) and realise that you hadn't cried that day  Motherhood is a massive change to life and it just takes awhile to adjust.
Let us know how you are doing in a few days ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: ScaredyKat
Date Posted: 04 February 2012 at 1:47pm
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Oh gosh, I should have mentioned NOT to take a whole tablet. I made the same mistake (STUPID STUPID GP's should know better!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and it was awful. I was even MORE anxious and felt awful for about two weeks. Hopefully not as long for you. I would definitely say I started to feel better after a few weeks. It can take up to a month, so don't give up yet.
PS I would suggest (following advice from Maternal Mental Health) a quarter tablet to start off with, going up by a quarter every week or two. But if you are okay with a half, keep going 
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Posted By: Dophy
Date Posted: 26 February 2012 at 10:30pm
| Im on citalopram have been for a couple of years now its helped me get back to my 'normal' self, I used to constantly have panic attacks every day when I got pregnant I did a bit of research into citalopram during pregnancy and breastfeeding and consulted my GP and a specialist the research and drs told me that citalopram was one of the safest anti depressants to take while pregnant but while breastfeeding could cause learning disabilities in baby later in life. But Im on the highest dose. This is what I was told but others here seem to be told different so maybe check with your GP. I promise you you will get better you just need a bit of a boost to help you and medication will help. Do you have support from family or partner? |
Posted By: Jacobsmumma
Date Posted: 04 March 2012 at 1:27pm
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Oh gosh yeah, defo don't start on a whole tablet. My Dr, who's also a IBCLC, recommended taking a 1/4 first then increasing by a 1/4 until I was taking a whole tab. She reassured me it was perfectly fine to take during breastfeeding, and I trust what she knows due to also being a LC! I am feeling so much better now since taking it. I am enjoying my boys and life in general. Hope things get better for you asap xx *edited for crap spelling!! ------------- 
(9lbs 6ozs) 
(11lbs 4ozs) |