[preggosaurus]

Hi there,

I am 11 weeks pregnant and on 10mgs of lexapro for anxiety/depression. To be honest, at the moment i'm a little scared and just want to wean (safely) off lexapro due to what i've just read. Such horrible things that can happen to the baby even though Doctors say they are safe enough during pregnancy.

Truth is there is no research on them to say either way if Lexapro is safe or not during pregnancy..... and what i've read tonight online about heart defects and pulmonary hypertension is just horrible. I am so worried I have already hurt the baby's heart as it's developed by 8 weeks

I tried to come off Lexapro at 8wks, but did it way too fast and coudn't stop vomiting (on top of the m/s) and experienced terrible side effects. I was nearly admitted to hosp. The GP wasn't fussed and said ''it'll pass'' and gave me an u/s to shut me up and get me out the door. Baby was fine- strong heart beat and measured perfectly.

It's such a struggle to find a good GP. Anyway, this time i will be doing it ever so slowly...with a checklist of how I am feeling day to day. I just hope the baby is fine. I also read 3rd tri is the most critical to not be on them so hoping I can be off them by then.

I have a friend who was on lexapro during pregnancy and her baby was absolutely fine so that gives me some sense that all can be well.

Anxiety and depression have been a ''part'' of me for so many years that I hope they stay as under control as they are now. I am very up and down but most of the time stable with barley any anxiety/depression, so i'm really not sure whether I should switch to something that is definitely OK whilst pregnant. Zoloft?? Or....try to wean all together. I would love to hear from anyone who has experienced weaning whilst pregnant, or been on lexapro when pregnant.

Thanks in advance!

ETA- This link. It was reassuring to read those statistics...

http://health.usnews.com/usnews/health/art...idepressant.htm

This post has been edited by preggosaurus: 22/04/2009, 07:12 PM

[leosmum]

Hi,

I know this is all really scary.

I take 3 meds for bipolar disorder and stayed on all of them throughout my pregnancy. Like so many drugs used to treat depression and anxiety disorders, my meds were not known to cause any serious birth defects, but equally there were not enough long-term studies to be sure that they were 100% safe. In the end, after much consideration and discussion with my psychiatrist and a specialist mother/baby psychiatrist, the conclusion was that, on balance, it was better for me to stay on my meds and stay stable and well throughout my pregnancy, than come off my meds and become unwell. As the mother/bub psych drilled into me so many times, "happy mum = happy baby". Plus being depressed during pregnancy itself poses risks for the developing brain (particularly if the baby is male).

My baby boy is now 12 months old and - so far - seems normal!! So I think I made the right choice.

As for Lexapro specifically - I do not take Lexapro, but I know that when the mother/bub psych was looking at my meds and their suitability for pregnancy, we did discuss the possibility of me switching from my anti-d (bupropion) to Lexapro because she was significantly more comfortable with Lexapro. So I would be very surprised to find that you HAVE to come off the Lexapro.

If you want a second opinion, ask your GP for a psych referral. You could also give your closest women's hospital a call and ask to speak to their pharmacy department. They are usually really up to date with all the studies etc and may well be able to give you some helpful info.

Best wishes

[preggosaurus]

leosmum- Thank you so much for your reply, really appreciated. I'm feeling so confused about this. That's a good idea about calling the hospital to ask. I will definitely do that tomorrow and ring my Psychiatrist for advice. When I saw him earlier in the pregnancy I was wanting to come off them and he supported my decision to do so...but said to taper off over 4 days! I did that and man was it WAY too fast. I thought he was very knowledgable until then....anyway will ask his opinion if I need further advice after the hospitals advice. Thanks again!

This post has been edited by preggosaurus: 22/04/2009, 08:18 PM

[cojajoch]

I take 60mg of Lexapro per day (very very high dosage), and took it all through my pregnancy. My baby is perfect, reaching milestones at all the right times etc.

They did keep me in a few extra days just to make sure she had no withdrawals from the tablets, but she didn't. Nice healthy birth weight etc.

Goodluck and feel free to PM me if you would like any further info.

[chocaholic]

I would definately find some more advice before trying to wean off them. I was diagnosed with PND when my DS was 3 months. During my second pregnancy I needed to go back on ADs at 20 months. I talked to a midwife (who was absolutely great) and she told me not to feel guilty about being on meds during pregnancy. The benefits of a happy mum far out way any negatives.

I took zoloft during the pregnancy and I have a healthy DD. I have since changed my medication and I now take lexapro.

I see a female doctor and she is great. I would definately find a doctor who will listen to you and that you can feel comfortable with.

[preggosaurus]

cojajoch- Thankyou for your reply, that gives me much relief to know you were on a high dose of the same med and your baby is fine!

chocaholic- Thanks for your reply. Yep I will def seek more advice before weaning. TBH I feel like I need to be on it at the moment. We are moving interstate (back home),but I will be without my husband for a month and í'm just so damn emotional.....I have a high risk of getting PND too. Just hard to weigh it all up I guess. I'm booked in to see a female GP next week so fingers crossed she is going to be a good one.

[preggosaurus]

Update-

Just a quick one....it's been a hard decision but I decided last night after hours of tears and talks with my husband that I need to stay on 10mg Lexapro for my own mental health. The stress I had without them or would have without them would be worse for the baby I think. Hoping the lexapro doesn't harm this bub in any way. Thanks for your support people.

[leosmum]

Congratulations, I'm so pleased that you've made a decision - and not that it matters, because it is your decision and yours alone, but I support you 100% and truly believe that it is absolutely the right decision for you and your bub. And if you have any moments of doubt, just keep reminding yourself of my psychiatrist's mantra: "happy mum, happy bub"....

[preggosaurus]

Thank you so much leosmum! You've been such a great support to me. I will remember the mantra and use it.

Edited to Add- The response to my query to the Royal Womens Hospital (Pharmacy Dept).

Thankyou for your query. Lexapro is one of the preferred medicines to use if treatment is required for depression in pregnancy.
There is no evidence of an increase in the risk of birth defects if you take Lexapro in pregnancy. Some babies can experience short-term withdrawal symptoms when they are born, for example restlessness, excessive crying, colic or poor feeding. In cases where this occurs, babies may need extra care for a short period in hospital until they are feeding properly.
It is important remember that there are risks associated with depression that is not managed in pregnancy. It is best to discuss the risks and benefits of treatment with your doctor.
There is limited information on the use of Lexapro in breastfeeding, but it appears that low doses such are unlikely to have adverse effects on baby. As a general precaution if breastfeeding while taking Lexapro, baby should be monitored for signs of drowsiness.

Please call our drug information service if you require further information.

Regards;
Jenny Rogers
Drug information pharmacist
Drug Information Centre
Pharmacy Department
The Royal Women's Hospital
Corner Grattan St and Flemington Rd, Parkville 3053
Hours: Monday-Friday 9am-5pm
A/H: Answering machine
PH: (03) 8345-3190
Fax: (03) 8345-3195

This post has been edited by preggosaurus: 24/04/2009, 02:05 PM

[chocaholic]

Good to hear you have a "game plan". That always makes me feel better knowing what my plan of attack is.

I was told by my doctor that a depressed mum can contribute to the child having anxiety later on in life.

Good luck for your appointment. PND is awful and it takes away all the good memories of having bubs (and they grow up so fast). It's not your fault having PND, it is more common than people realise.



PM me if you ever need a chat.