Pregnancy and Lexapro

Please just talk with you DR.

I took Zoloft for my whole first pregnancy and everything was perfect.

Be good to you. :)

Hi J..
Yes, I got pregnant while taking lexapro. My pregnancy was an "accident" so I didn't have a chance to quit before getting pregnant. Once I found out I was pregnant, I did decide to stop taking it. Even though I was very nervous and overwhelmed with the thought of having a child, I didn't have any anxiety attacks while I was pregnant (which was very relieving.) I guess it's because I had something wonderful to focus on? Well my baby boy is now 15 months and doing awesome!
Good luck to you!

Dont let the computer be your source of information on this question. The lists of possible side effects are so widespread on ANY drug because if it happened once in a million people they have to list it, in order to avoid legal responsibility.
My suggestion is to go and talk to your local pharmacist. They know the real side effects of all sorts of drugs and they will be able to give you "REAL" information.
If your pharmacist won't take the time to talk with you about it, then it is time to find another pharmacy!!!
Good luck and congratulations on your baby!!!
R. Ann

Hi J.,

I was on lexapro for the first four months of my pregnancy, I wish I wouldn't have stopped. It would have helped. But my little girl is healthy and happy as a lark! She was a one month preemie, but pre clampsia runs in my family. Just relax and all should be fine, Just talk to your doctor if ypu have any questions.

Hey J.-I was on Lexapro when I got pregnant. I asked the doctor before I got pregnant what I should do if I got pregnant and he said to call him and make an appointment right away. He told me that it could cause a miscarriage. I went in after I found out I was pregnant and he put me on Zoloft. Don't freak yourself out. Just call the doctor and get into see him/her. Hope this helps.

Hi J.,
You may want to consider an alternative to medication during pregnancy. I work with a nutritional food science company that produces products that are safe from the "womb to the tomb." I have two customers who have had great pregnancies and deliveries with a quick recovery, and very healthy babies. I myself have been able to come off of my meds for pain and depression. Feel free to call me if you are interested:
C.
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Hi. I had an unexpected pregnancy while taking Lexapro. I weaned myself off of the Lexapro over a week's time the minute I found out I was expecting. I have an 18 month old and he is totally fine..he is talking ahead of his peers and his physical development is ahead of his peers; everything else on target. I know it is a worry, but hang in there. I prayed a lot! Good luck!

I was trying to get pregnant while on this. My doctor told me that it was safe until the third trimester. I was weaned off right before my third trimester. My daughter is healthy, happy, and very smart. No birth defects. This was 3 years ago, but I can't imagine much has changed in that amount of time. Your doctor may have a different opinion than mine, but I got to keep taking mine.

J.,
Congratulations and GET OFF THE COMPUTER! You'll scare the pee out of yourself...and if you're pregnant, you don't need any help peeing!!!
Seriously though, you should be perfectly fine.
For many years the medical community thought SSRIs (like Lexapro, Paxil, Prozac, etc.) were just fine in pregnancy.
Only recently has there been some question about complications, especially when the medicine is taken in the 3rd trimester, which might increase something called pulmonary hyptertension in the newborn, or first trimester, which might be associated with a small increase in heart defects. So...current recommendations are to come off the SSRI if possible when you find out you're pregnant (but only do this with help from a medical provider...otherwise side effects can be miserable!). That said, many people still suffer from depression during a pregnancy, and although they might change which med you are on to something with more of a "track record" if you really need something, many times they weigh the benefit vs. risk and decide it is best for both mom and baby if an antidepressant is continued. So...although, yes, there are risks when taking the Lexapro, the risk is VERY small. If the risk was greater, they'd be taking all women of childbearing years off SSRIS (and this is the group with the greatest need for them). Easier said than done, but try not to lose sleep about it. Meet with your clinician and talk about options from here.
Wishing you all the best!

J.,

No, I can't say that I have. Not to freak you out more, but GET TO THE DOCTOR ASAP!! Only he/she can reassure you by taking the necessary tests and precautions.

ls

I took it all the way thru both my pregnancies. I had a
long talk with my OB and my psych. about it and we decided
the benefit WAY outweighed the risk. all I can tell you is
that when they are testing a drug for marketing, they have
to report EVERY EVENT that occurs in the people that are
taking it for testing, regardless of whether said event
was actually caused by the drug or not. Lexapro is a pretty safe medicine and if it helps, both my pregnancies
were healthy, both births, both kids, all wonderful. I did
NOT nurse. since I was at risk for postpartum depression
stopping the Lexapro to nurse when I was having a major
hormonal crash would not have been a smart thing!!
listen, do what feels right to you, ultimately-but DON'T
freak out over this. oh yeah, congratulations!! :)

I will tell you I was on every drug known to depression when I got pregnant. I was taking xanax, lamictal and wellbutrin, along with a score of other meds for other problems. All those I mentioned above are class x drugs which is the most harmful to baby. I took them for the whole first trimester. Although he was premature (due to my high blood pressure, not any of these meds) he is very healthy and normal. My doctor was concerned about my age as well as my perscription history so she sent me to a perinatologist who had a geneticist on site who helped me weigh my risks with my advanced age (35) and my prescription intake. Your OBGYN should be able to hook you up with a pernatologist if you are worried!!

Good luck!

I was on Lexapro when I unexpectantly got pregnant. My OBGYN said that research didn't suggest that there were any major problems associated with taking Lexapro while being pregnant, but if I could stop taking it until after I gave birth, to try. I tried for about 6 weeks, and ended up back in my dr's office, a crying mess. lol He told me to go back on it, if it made me feel better...and it did, to say the least. I gave birth to a very healthy and happy baby boy. No problems at all. :) The research I did leaned toward staying on it, rather than going off, as going off actually could cause more post-pardum issues. It was a lot healthier for me and baby to stay on it, and I have no regrets. :) Hope this helps and good luck to you!

J.,

The computer can be a good thing, but it can also cause some real headaches when it comes to things like this!! Quit reading about the effects and call your doctor! I don't take lexapro, but I have epilepsy and I take phenobarbital for it, which is not good when you are pregnant, but I have 5 healthy children and I nursed all of them, another no-no according to what the papers all say, but it didn't affect them at all! They were normal babies and have grown up to be normal adults! Just talk to the doctor and relax, enjoy the pregnancy and have fun with your new bundle of joy when he/she gets here!!