Do ob/gyn's prescribe anti-depressants?

Just a little worried about the possibility of post-partum depression. I was on an anti-depressant on and off for a few years and they really helped me. Since I moved to NJ I don't have a new Dr. and am wondering if my obgyn can prescribe me anti-depressants if I have any problems after giving birth?

Re: Do ob/gyn's prescribe anti-depressants?

OK I dont know the real answer to this BUT it is one that Ive thought about the past couple of months...I was on anti-depressants after my divorce and went off them when I wanted to get pregnant..so Im concerned that having the baby will throw off my hormones etc....

BUT I do know that when I went to my OBGYN the last time there was a pharm rep talking to the dr asking him if he needed any samples of...Wellbutrin, Paxil, etc....so Im going to assume that this something common for OBGYNs to prescribe

Re: Do ob/gyn's prescribe anti-depressants?

Not PG but I do work in mental health and have been on anti-depressants myself in the past.

I would not ask for anti-depressants from an OB/GYN. They can probably prescribe ANYTHING in theory, but their interest is primarily in your reproductive and not mental health. If you feel as if you should go on such medication, it should really be administered by your regular PCP or a psychiatrist so that dosage can be monitored or adjusted properly and regularly. If you go on and then off anti-depressants pre-maturely without being weaned, symptoms can and do reappear often worse than before.

JMO. Good luck.

Re: Do ob/gyn's prescribe anti-depressants?

I believe my SIL's prescribed her Effexor. BUT this doctor was a looney toon, so I don't know if a reputible OB would.

Re: Do ob/gyn's prescribe anti-depressants?

I work in a psych ER and usually advise against getting meds from other than a psychiatrist. However, in this situation I would ask your OB. If you are not symptomatic and want to go on them as prophylaxis ( for prevention) I think it can be done. If you know you have a history of depression, you know what medicine worked for you in the past, I think prevention is a good idea. And for the record its not uncommon. I have seen many pregnant women coming in to get back on it so they dont get PPD.

Good luck

Re: Do ob/gyn's prescribe anti-depressants?

Re: Do ob/gyn's prescribe anti-depressants?

Message edited 4/13/2007 4:46:23 PM.

Re: Do ob/gyn's prescribe anti-depressants?

Re: Do ob/gyn's prescribe anti-depressants?

You will be given all kinds of info on ppd while you are in hospital, along with some names of dr's that can help. At least that is what I got at Huntington Hospital

Re: Do ob/gyn's prescribe anti-depressants?

your ob/gyn prob shouldn't prescribe them but should be able to refer you to a doctor that can... i'm sure its fairly common for ob/gyns.... I think Alexlynn7 posted about this recently - this is her medical specialty

Re: Do ob/gyn's prescribe anti-depressants?

tricky issue. your OB can prescribe any medication he/she wants. the question is, is it the best idea that your OB give you antidepressants? one way of approaching it is to turn the tables:

i am a psychiatrist. would you want me to find and prescribe the right birth control method for you?

some patients don't care - anything to avoid the pelvic exam they figure, i'm a doctor, i know what i'm doing. and they're right, to an extent. i can prescribe a BCP and i have a basic knowledge of what i'm giving. but do i know the intimate ins and outs of birth control? am i up on the very latest about that topic? definitely not. and just as importantly, i am going to be the doctor monitoring that person while she is on BCPs, which have side effects, etc? NO. so when i get this request, i'll usually prescribe one month's worth and get them to the gyn ASAP.

i would venture to guess that the same is true about gyns and antidepressants. they can prescribe one, but they probably don't have the experience with them that a psychiatrist does, who deals with these drugs day in and day out. and they certainly aren't going to be monitoring you regularly while you're on that medication. antidepressants are not as benign as they are painted to be. they have side effects and drug/drug interactions. also, they are not created equal - what works for one person may not work for the other. i would think one would want to be seeing a doctor who was a relative expert in these issues.

post-partum depression is a psychiatric condition. just because it occurs in obstetrics patients, doesn't mean that obstetricians are the best at treating it. it's not their specialty. jmo.

Message edited 4/12/2007 1:07:41 PM.

Re: Do ob/gyn's prescribe anti-depressants?

Thanks all. I had a general Dr. prescribe them to me for years and this woman didn't know me at all and never followed up with me. I am very familiar with the dosage that works for me, so I just really need someone to prescribe me the medicine. I am going to bring it up to my OB at my next appt. I don't really think I'll need it so much for PPD, but more for just living on a daily basis...it helps me with anxiety.

Message edited 4/12/2007 1:12:54 PM.

Re: Do ob/gyn's prescribe anti-depressants?

I believe OB's can/do precsribe antidipresants for PP depression (if needed). They usually do it in combination of a psychologist referral.

Re: Do ob/gyn's prescribe anti-depressants?

Any dr can prescribe any medication. However, being I have suffered from a panic disorder and depression since I was a child, I am a big advocate of going to a psychiatrist to prescribe psychiatric meds. Just any dr does not have the expertise and psychiatric meds are not like antibiotics. They dont work for everybody and can have some serious side effects. I would recommend going to a psychiatric professional for medication.

Re: Do ob/gyn's prescribe anti-depressants?

I truly believe that an OBGYN would just give you a referral if you mentioned anxiety or depression. I had one refuse to give me any advice or meds when I had a cold with fever (pre pregnancy and not my current OB). My friend has a history of depression and hooked up with a psychiatrist who monitored her during the pregnancy and was ready to hear from her after she gave birth. I think it would be best to have a psychiatrist "on call."

Message edited 4/12/2007 1:42:45 PM.