https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 13 May 2026 15:08:47 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-take-an-ssri-during-pregnancy#post-813943 Tue, 28 May 2013 17:11:57 +0000 LindsayInNY 813943@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@IRunForFun: Yes, I would absolutely wait until post-wedding! I was on Lexapro a couple times during college and law school. I waited until after the bar exam to start weaning off of it for good. Last thing I needed was to be battling all that PLUS the bar exam, LOL! I think taking some time to adjust to a new medication is a good idea too. Hopefully it goes smoother than expected!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-take-an-ssri-during-pregnancy#post-813904 Tue, 28 May 2013 16:46:01 +0000 IRunForFun 813904@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@banana: I think for a one-time event you may be able to get something like Xanax, which is a benzodiazepine, and can be taken just once on the day you need it to calm you down (and maybe once or twice before the event just to see how it affects you.)</p> <p>Xanax is sometimes prescribed as a long-term medication, but not often, and it can cause dependency and withdrawal if it is used long term. Used short term, though, it typically won't cause withdrawal or lingering side effects.</p> <p>SSRIs are different since they're intended for long-term use and actually change the chemical balance in your brain. It takes 4 to 6 weeks for them to even become fully effective. Withdrawal occurs when you come off of SSRIs because of the chemical changes and withdrawal and cause symptoms like nausea, sweats, headaches, fatigue, etc. </p> <p>If you need something for the speaking engagement I'd ask your doctor about a low dose of Xanax. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-take-an-ssri-during-pregnancy#post-813900 Tue, 28 May 2013 16:41:10 +0000 banana 813900@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@IRunForFun: What happens when you come off the meds? Do people go through withdrawal? I have a major public speaking engagement I have to do soon and I'm thinking I want some meds to help me through it! But I've never taken any so I wasn't sure what the side effects were. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-take-an-ssri-during-pregnancy#post-813890 Tue, 28 May 2013 16:37:34 +0000 IRunForFun 813890@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LindsayInNY: Thanks for weighing in!</p> <p>Yeah, I think what I will do is wait until after my wedding to transition to a "safer" medication, because I don't want to go through withdrawal and readjustment right beforehand. Then I'll wait a few months to adjust to the new medication before we TTC. </p> <p>That's the game plan I'm sort of formulating right now... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-take-an-ssri-during-pregnancy#post-813876 Tue, 28 May 2013 16:33:37 +0000 LindsayInNY 813876@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not currently on anything (we're TTC) but I was on medication for ADHD. My psych was okay with me being on an anti-depressant during pregnancy than a stimulant. She defaulted to my ob/gyn though who was totally against any sort of stimulant. Not the same as SSRI, I know... I know what you mean about being off meds though. I would transition to a "safer" one so that when you're ready to start TTC, you can stay on that drug while pregnant. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-take-an-ssri-during-pregnancy#post-813855 Tue, 28 May 2013 16:24:05 +0000 aprk 813855@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@IRunForFun: I totally understand. I have been panic attack free since going on the meds, even at a really lose dose (75 mg). When my episode was going on, I had not slept for 11 days and became afraid of the dark and couldn't be left alone. I actually had to be hospitalized to get everything under control. </p> <p>Zoloft does enter the breastmilk, but at really low doses. Its generally considered one of the safest choices. I was comfortable breastfeeding since not being on the medication was too scary a proposition. I hope you find something that works! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-take-an-ssri-during-pregnancy#post-813848 Tue, 28 May 2013 16:18:46 +0000 IRunForFun 813848@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@aprk: Thanks for responding! Zoloft was the one my doctor discussed when I wanted to go back on Paxil, so I think that's probably what he'd recommend again. I wish I'd been patient enough to give it a shot, but, I just wanted to feel better ASAP. It helps to hear a positive story, though! </p> <p>Do you think the Zoloft helped with the panic attacks? I forgot that when I was off meds I also wasn't sleeping.</p> <p>ETA: I also wasn't entirely sure about breastfeeding while on it, but it sounds like you can? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-take-an-ssri-during-pregnancy#post-813846 Tue, 28 May 2013 16:16:55 +0000 aprk 813846@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've been in Zoloft since week 24 of my pregnancy, due to hormone induced nighttime anxiety and panic attacks. A was born perfectly healthy at 41 weeks, and now at 8 weeks is doing great. My doctor recommends I stay on the Zoloft until I stop breastfeeding to keep me balanced with the hormones. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-take-an-ssri-during-pregnancy#post-813829 Tue, 28 May 2013 16:09:08 +0000 IRunForFun 813829@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wasn't sure which board to put this under, so I am just putting it in general "pregnancy."</p> <p>Here's the deal. I have pretty severe anxiety with phobias and panic attacks. It's been managed with medication on and off for 10 years. I was first prescribed Paxil when I was a freshman in college and it made a world of difference for me. I weaned off of it after graduating college, and was fine without medication for two years, but the anxiety started getting pervasive again, with frequent panic attacks, so I went back on it. Again, it helped a ton, it was like night and day. However, last spring I decided, along with SO, that it would be a good idea to wean off of it again, since Paxil is contraindicated during pregnancy. We figured it would give me enough time to adjust to being medication free and come up with natural ways to manage the anxiety before we started TTC. </p> <p>Worst. Idea. Ever. I weaned off of it slowly and the withdrawal wasn't horrible, so at first I thought it was totally doable. But the anxiety got SO bad that it was affecting my ability to function. I couldn't eat, was missing work (luckily I have an amazing, understanding boss), and basically doing only as much as it took to survive. It was affecting my relationship as well. </p> <p>I was off of it for 6 months before I called my doctor and asked to be put back on Paxil. He did offer some other medications that may be safer for pregnancy, but I was so desperate that I just wanted what I knew would work. </p> <p>So here I am now, 7 months later, knowing that in less than a year we'll be TTC. Part of me feels like the dream of being completely med free during pregnancy is out the window, but the other part of me doesn't want to take any medication at all, even if it's low risk for the baby. A risk is a risk, no matter how low. Then again, if I'm unhealthy (not eating, constantly under stress having panic attacks) the baby would be at risk, too. </p> <p>I feel terrible that I can't seem to manage this without medication (and trust me, I've tried - I've seen about 8 different therapists/psychologists/counselors and tried various types of therapy) but I really don't want to forgo having biological children because of it. So, I think after I discuss this with my doctor, he'll recommend a "safer" SSRI. Then I'll need to deal with tapering off of the Paxil and adjusting to something new. </p> <p>Has anyone been in a similar situation? Are there any stories of people on SSRIs throughout pregnancy giving birth to a perfectly healthy baby? </p> <p>I really want to do whatever is best for myself and my potential baby, but I'm torn! </p>