Update: Anxiety, stress and depression

I've dealt with the above for most of my life and have been medicated for the same since 2004. Now that I'm pregnant (1 month in) I've gone cold turkey but the anxiety, stress and depression have come back like a ton of bricks. (The drug I was on is the safest for pregnant women.) My question is, what's more of a risk, the anxiety and stress or the drugs? If it's the drugs I'll keep not taking them, but I'm worried about what the anxiety and stress is doing to the baby.

Updated: My doctor never called me back so I called her about 30 minutes ago. Spoke with the receptionist, who had me speak with a nurse, who spoke with a doctor (not mine), who told me it was okay to go back on the Zoloft.

Message edited 2/6/2009 2:37:29 PM.

Re: Anxiety, stress and depression

I don't really have any advice for you, as I've never been in your situation, but have you spoken to your doctor about this? What is his/her opinion?

Re: Anxiety, stress and depression

I have a very desar friend that was on prozac her whole pregnancy.. She was 42 at the time and high risk.. Her baby is perfectly normal in every way.. Please go back to your Dr and he will guide you on whats right.. You should be enjoying this , not battling this kind of illness on your own.. Please go back..

Re: Anxiety, stress and depression

Absolutely discuss this with your doctor. Taking care of you is the first step to making a healthy baby. You should never stop depression meds cold turkey, doctors would have you wean off but you should definitely have your doctor make a plan that's safe for you and your baby.

Message edited 2/5/2009 10:31:07 AM.

Re: Anxiety, stress and depression

You need to talk to your Dr. abou this. You are never suppose to go "cold turkey" when coming off of those types of medications because it will cause sudden drops in chemical receptors of your brain and cause the anxiety/depression to become worse. You are suppose to slowly wean off the medication.

Please call your MD!

Re: Anxiety, stress and depression

Def talk to your MD

I know of many people who have been on psych meds while being pregnant and their babies turned out fine (if this helps you feel better)


It is manageable--talk to your doc!

....

Message edited 3/4/2013 11:59:54 AM.

Re: Anxiety, stress and depression

I think you need to talk to your Dr. -

1. - You're not supposed to stop those drugs 'cold turkey' - you're supposed to wean yourself off of them
2. It's a bad idea to make those kind of assumptions or decisions regarding maitenence medication w/out consulting a Dr. -

Re: Anxiety, stress and depression

Thanks for all your input. I actually spoke with my doctor before the pregnancy and she informed me it would be safe to take the drug during pregnancy. This was all my choosing and not her's, but now that I've read your posts I think I'll go back on. My first appointment is in March (scheduled so due to the whole waiting 6-8 weeks after conception protocol). I was trying to be a warrior and do what's best for the baby, but it appears that taking the drug may be what's best in the end. Once again, thanks. (Just to add...I'm taking it as soon as I get home. I'm tired of feeling this way.)

Re: Anxiety, stress and depression

Re: Anxiety, stress and depression

Don't think like that - re "be a warrior" - what's best for Baby right now is what's best for YOU
You need to be happy, stress free and relaxed as possible during your pregnancy -
There are enough outside factors to make you feel overwhelmed and worry and, and, and ........NO need to make yourself suffer through 40 weeks when you don't have to !!

....

Message edited 3/4/2013 12:00:04 PM.

Re: Anxiety, stress and depression

Prior to having my DD I was on Paxil and went of it before becoming pregnant. My entire pregnancy with DD I had terrible anxiety attacks - it was awful. My heart would race for hours. This time around I am on zoloft. I am on the lowest dose which I actually cut in half so it is not much but it is enough to "take the edge off' of the anxiety.

Best of luck

Re: Anxiety, stress and depression

Posted by Blissful

You need to talk to your Dr. abou this. You are never suppose to go "cold turkey" when coming off of those types of medications because it will cause sudden drops in chemical receptors of your brain and cause the anxiety/depression to become worse. You are suppose to slowly wean off the medication.

Please call your MD!

Re: Anxiety, stress and depression

Posted by stickydust

Prior to having my DD I was on Paxil and went of it before becoming pregnant. My entire pregnancy with DD I had terrible anxiety attacks - it was awful. My heart would race for hours. This time around I am on zoloft. I am on the lowest dose which I actually cut in half so it is not much but it is enough to "take the edge off' of the anxiety.

Best of luck

Re: Anxiety, stress and depression

I was just thinking.. Just to be safe.. Did you tell your Dr you were going back on when you get home today? Is that safe to do?.. Going off cold turkey and then going back on full strength?? I really dont know the answer to this or if you were even going to take the whole 5mg this first time.. Just to be sure.. KWIM?

Re: Anxiety, stress and depression

Posted by dilb712

I was just thinking.. Just to be safe.. Did you tell your Dr you were going back on when you get home today? Is that safe to do?.. Going off cold turkey and then going back on full strength?? I really dont know the answer to this or if you were even going to take the whole 5mg this first time.. Just to be sure.. KWIM?

Re: Anxiety, stress and depression

Sending you some

Re: Anxiety, stress and depression

I have taken paxil for years. I came off of it and my anxiety/depression went through the roof. i couldnt function or take care of my son. After speaking with my dr. the best thing for me was to go back on a low dose of 10 mg. It is not the "safest" to take during pregnancy but neither is the alternative for me. None of the other medications have worked for me in the past nor did I want to play trial and error while I was pregnant b/c I think that would be worse for me. I also had to go back on a low dose of paxil around 10 wks. during my first pregnancy and my son is perfectly healthy.

Message edited 2/5/2009 12:28:11 PM.

Re: Anxiety, stress and depression

My geneticist said to me in our consult that the meds are safe until the third tri. You are probably withdrawing from the mix of preggo hormones and going off cold turkey, because you should taper down. I would call your OB as soon as possible for some of their advice. A geneticist might help here because they know the safety of the drugs in question.

Re: Update: Anxiety, stress and depression