"Anti-depression & Anti-anxiety Medications"

Updated on January 27, 2007
C.R. asks from Abilene, TX
16 answers

Has anyone been on anti-anxiety or anti-depression during pregnancy? Which medication were you on? Did it have any effects on the baby after birth?

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So What Happened?

I went to my psychologist appointment yesterday and the news wasn't very good but it was not also all that bad. He did put me on lexapro and said that I should starts to feel the effects in about 4-5 days, the bad thing is that I will be going thru withdrawl symptoms from the klonopin which in return will increase my anxiety attacks.. He said I had to be strong for the baby and try and conquer these feeling.. he send me to talk to a counselor who deals in relaxation methods. My appointment is tomorrow at noon.. I will let you all know how it turns out.

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T.C.

answers from San Antonio on

I was on serequel for an anti depressant but only given it after my third month.They said it basically illuminated the risk of effects on the baby.As far as anti-axiety meds.They told me I couldn't take anything.I had been on xanax but they said any anti-anxiety meds should be avoided if possible.

Iam a 22 year old mother of two one on the way

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M.B.

answers from Corpus Christi on

Hi C.,
I took 20 mg of Prozac daily thru both pregnancies. There are no effects on our children that we know of. We had little challenges with delays in speech and walking but they are walking and talking perfectly now. I don't think the delays had anything to do with my meds.

Best of luck!

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L.C.

answers from Killeen on

Hi C., my name is L.. I wasn't on meds while pregers but I do know that two meds docs choose are zoloft and/or prozac. Zoloft is one docs gravitate to more. I'm on Zoloft for post partum depression and they basically follow the same procedures for breastfeeding mothers as they do for pregnant mothers. My son is 4 months old and he hasn't experienced any effects at all and I'm going on three months of being on my meds. Good luck, congrats, and many blessings.

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E.M.

answers from Killeen on

Hi C.,
I just had my first baby at 33. Congratulations on your pregnancy! I would love to have another. I was on Zoloft throughout my pregnancy and for three months afterwards. Thank goodness! I stayed remarkably collected throughout a very difficult pregnancy and had no post-partum issues. My ob/gyn basically said that the risk of being on Zoloft was much smaller than the risks involved of not being on it if you need it. I had no trouble with it and have no qualms about taking it again if I need it.

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A.B.

answers from San Antonio on

Hello,
I have a history of depression and anxiety attacks. I also have two little girls ... 2 1/2 year old and I just delivered our second little girl 3 weeks ago.

During my first pregnancy I weaned myself off of zoloft thinking it would be better for the baby, I was way wrong. I ended up making myself alot worse off. I ended up with a terrible case of post partum depression, something I would hate to see anyone else have to go through.

During my second pregnancy my psychologist told me to keep taking my 100mg of zoloft per day throughout my pregnancy and that she would bump it up to 150mg at the very end to try and keep me from having post partum depression.

As for the anxiety attacks, I had always taken 0.5mg of Xanax XR when I was not pregnant and having anxiety although I know many doctors are against women taking this medicine while pregnant. My psycologist said that it is more harmful to the baby to go into a full blown anxiety attack than it is to take the very low dosage of 0.5 mg of xanax xr.

Anyhow, both of our girls are happy, healthy and doing great!! Also, I am breastfeeding our 3 week old and still taking the zoloft . I also took the xanax xr for the first week after delivery. This had no effect at all on our little one while breastfeeding.

Take care of yourself ... a happy mom means a happy baby! Congratulations!! PS- feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions :-)

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M.

answers from San Antonio on

I am currently 20 weeks pregnant and taking lexapro. I am now on it every other day since I am being weaned off it. I was told by my OB that if my depression returns during the pregnancy that he'll be switching me to wellbutrin. Good luck to you and congratulations on your pregnancy.

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A.G.

answers from El Paso on

I took wellbutrin(sp) during the first two months of my pregnancy. I am getting induced in two days, so I don't actually know about the effects on the baby. I decided to stop taking the med. to be as natural as I could be, but it all depends on the person. If you NEED to be on med.s definatly take them. My doctor assured me that wellbutrin(sp) was safe to take and breastfeed with. :) Congrats on the baby!

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T.D.

answers from San Antonio on

i myself have never been on the medication while pregnant but i do have a best friend of mine whose daughter was on zoloft while she was pregnant and her baby is fine...hope that helps ttyl byeeeeeeeee..........T.

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J.H.

answers from Dallas on

Hi C.! Congrats on your pregnancy! I've got a little girl, 4, and a son, 9 months, and took Zoloft throughout both pregnancies at the recommendation of my OB. As far as I know, neither baby was impacted by my taking the medication - other thant the fact that they had a happy, healthy mom!

Good luck to you and congrats again!

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K.

answers from El Paso on

I am currently on Zoloft 50mg and it is working great. Zoloft is one of the safest (if not the safest) anit-depressant to take during pregnancy. I was previously on Lexapro 10mg and my OB changed me to Zoloft. The nice thing is that you don't have to wean yourself between the 2- you can just stop the Lexapro and start the Zoloft the next day. As far as I know, there are no side effects to the baby on Zoloft. I know 1 or 2 others who are also on Zoloft with a current pregnancy and a previous, and there were no ill effects on the baby. Good luck and take care of yourself!

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D.S.

answers from Austin on

I was on medication during both of my pregnancies. The only reason I thought it would be safe is because my sister did the same thing with two of her children. I was on a different medication before pregnancy but the doctors did a little research and found that Zoloft was the safest option for me. Both of my children were born perfectly healthy and normal. The same for my sister as well. I hope this helps and let me know if you have any more questions.

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M.T.

answers from Austin on

I am 33 as well and have three kiddos. I was on anti-depressants and anxiety meds for awhile. I never took them during pregnancy, I was too scared for the baby's outcome. It's a difficult decision to make, but I would definitely stay off the meds during the pregnancy. I have been through a lot and I can tell you from experience that prayer works wonders! Email me if you need some info or if you just wanna chat. I'm going through a separation and it's soooooooo hard raising three kids on my own.

M.

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A.J.

answers from Killeen on

i was on wellbutrin and buspar. they worked great and i just weaned myself to taking the wellbutrin once every 3 days a few weeks before my baby was born and she didn't have any bad withdrawel symptoms

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B.T.

answers from Austin on

I was on anti-depressants when I found out I was pregnant with my first daughter. My psychiatrist and I decided for I would stop taking them. When I got to my 6th or 7th month I began to get very scared I was going to have post-pardum depression. I talked it over with the doctor and we made the decision to go back on meds. He said Zoloft was safe during pregnancy and while breastfeeding, which was my plan. I had been on it before and tolerated it fine. My daughter is 6 1/2 now and is doing great. I would suggest talking with both your psychiatrist (if you have one) and your OB/GYN.

When I got pregnant with my second, I stopped taking my medication again and thankfully was able to stay off it during the entire pregnancy and while breastfeeding but I am back on medication now. It was very rough though.

I hope this helps. Good luck!

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M.H.

answers from Lubbock on

My ob/gyn actualy put my on welbutrin to quit smoking, it is also a depression med. My son was born big and healthy as a horse, and I took it most of the pregnancy.

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S.K.

answers from Wichita Falls on

I had 2 miscarriages and the OB put me on Lexapro after that. When I became pregnat with my 2nd we discussed it and said that it should not cause any problems and it didn't. He gave me the option of weaning off of it before the baby was born so that the baby would go threw the withdrawals with me, if there were any. I reduced my dosage from 10mg a day to 5mg every 3 days by the time the baby was born. I tried to quit completely but my withdrawals were hard on me causing me dizziness and headaches and electric shock like feelings. The baby however didn't show any signs of withdrawals. I nursed him for the first 2 1/2 months. He is 10 months old now and big and healthy. He never seemed to experience anything and it hasn't effected his growth or developement. Good luck and speak with your docotr(s).

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