https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 06 May 2026 03:45:56 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-weaning-from-ssri-pre-ttc#post-2706778 Tue, 07 Mar 2017 09:43:38 +0000 yoursilverlining 2706778@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't wean to TTC, but I have been on and off Zoloft for the better part of 15 years and haven't ever experienced horrible (or even bad, really) withdrawal and weaning from it as long as I did a good, gradual step down process over the course of about 2 weeks.</p> <p>Effexor on the other hand - never again! Even missing a dose by a few hours brought about symptoms and getting off that was a nightmare (even stepping down extremely gradually). My doctor had to Rx me another med just to get through getting off effexor. You couldn't pay me to go back on that - but Zoloft also works well for me. </p> <p>Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-weaning-from-ssri-pre-ttc#post-2706776 Tue, 07 Mar 2017 09:30:29 +0000 IRunForFun 2706776@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Slightly different but I was on Lexapro prior to TTC and was told it was OK to stay on through pregnancy (I tried Zoloft and it didn't work for me.) After getting pregnant my doctor changed his mind and wanted me off of it so I weaned onto a different class of drug and it was an awful experience because my anxiety came back with a vengeance. My midwives and a maternal fetal medicine specialist assured me the risks with Lexapro were very, very low and encouraged me to go back on it. I did and my DD didn't experience any withdrawal syndrome or anything like that. I'm still on it, in fact I've upped my dose, while breastfeeding, and she doesn't have any issues related to the SSRI. (Now reflux and dairy intolerance are a whole other ball game! :silly: ) </p> <p>So if you find you aren't handling weaning well, try not to worry too much about risks! And I echo everyone else who says to wean very slowly. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-weaning-from-ssri-pre-ttc#post-2706772 Tue, 07 Mar 2017 09:21:49 +0000 edelweiss 2706772@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>my OB told me zoloft was safe for ttc, pregnancy and breastfeeding (in contrast, lexapro, citalopram, lamictal are not okay). i was on it for all those phases and have 2 healthy boys. i don't have advice about weaning from zoloft, but just wanted to add another perspective. whatever you decide, good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-weaning-from-ssri-pre-ttc#post-2706767 Tue, 07 Mar 2017 08:58:50 +0000 HeartAbandoned 2706767@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Dahlia: Thank you for sharing! I'm so relieved to hear that you, @Coral: &amp; @catomd00: were able to continue on the medicine while pregnant and/or BFing. I am still hopeful to wean from Zoloft for more than just TTC, but it's helpful to know that if Zoloft is what it takes for me to be my best self, I won't have to sacrifice BFing or worry about pregnancy side effects (any more than normal, anyway)! </p> <p>@farawayyama: Good luck if you decide to come off the meds! </p> <p>@PawPrints: I'll definitely keep this in mind. My PCP's office recommended reducing by 25 mg for 2-3 weeks at a time, and scheduling an appointment about a month from now to check in. Hopefully it will go smoothly. </p> <p>And for everyone who has commented - I'm so thankful for a place to talk openly and honestly about mental health and how important it is for us to take care of ourselves. I've been out of the HB world for nearly 2 years (something about my kid actually being born meant I suddenly couldn't be on the boards anymore), and it's nice to know it's still the loving, supportive community I experienced while TTC #1. :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-weaning-from-ssri-pre-ttc#post-2706669 Mon, 06 Mar 2017 20:59:39 +0000 catomd00 2706669@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Following because I would like to wean off Zoloft before we TTC again. I will say, I started taking it when DD2 was 4.5 months and did not notice any side effects with breastfeeding. Still going strong at 9 months. The only thing I noticed is I started getting a recurrent plugged duct every few weeks. I never took Zoloft with DD1 and had 1 plugged duct the entire 20 months. It might just be a coincidence and not anything to do with the Zoloft but figured I'd mention it. I'm on 100mg and definitely plan to wean very slowly. I tapered up more slowly than my doc told me to. I basically waited until I had no side effects at one dose for a few days then when up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-weaning-from-ssri-pre-ttc#post-2706583 Mon, 06 Mar 2017 18:11:33 +0000 PawPrints 2706583@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My experience may not be directly relevant because I weaned when I felt symptom-free for six months, not in preparation for TTC. But my one input is that when your psychiatrist tells you that withdrawal symptoms can include all the symptoms of the flu, that can be SERIOUS BUSINESS. I figured I might feel tired. Yeah, even after a very gradual tapering, I still felt like I got hit by a truck and was more or less unable to work for a few days. So another vote for weaning very, very gradually. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-weaning-from-ssri-pre-ttc#post-2706577 Mon, 06 Mar 2017 17:56:20 +0000 Coral 2706577@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@HeartAbandoned: I'm relieved you didn't think I was being pushy! I just wanted to give another option. I have been on Zoloft since the month before I got pregnant with my son and bf him until 14 months. I saw absolutely no effects whatsoever that would have given me concern. We had a great bf relationship (after the first dreaded 6 weeks :silly: ) and I honestly think that zoloft helped me to avoid ppd/ppa.<br /> I have tried to get off of it many times and the most recent time, I did it in a healthy/smart way (also seeing a counselor) but I think I just need it to be a healthy, happy mama. :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-weaning-from-ssri-pre-ttc#post-2706528 Mon, 06 Mar 2017 16:26:25 +0000 farawayyama 2706528@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Commenting to follow. I'm on Zoloft amd debating whether to come </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-weaning-from-ssri-pre-ttc#post-2706526 Mon, 06 Mar 2017 16:23:03 +0000 Dahlia 2706526@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was on a low dose of Citalopram when I got pregnant and I stopped cold turkey. Probably not the best idea, although I didn't have withdrawal issues. I continued seeing a therapist throughout my pregnancy and at times felt my anxiety was better than it had been on the Citalopram (thanks, hormones!). About 6 weeks after DD was born, the anxiety was out of control again so I starting taking Zoloft and took it the whole 16 months I breastfed and still take it now. No issues with it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-weaning-from-ssri-pre-ttc#post-2706496 Mon, 06 Mar 2017 15:44:20 +0000 HeartAbandoned 2706496@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Coral: Thank you for sharing your experience! That is definitely helpful and I will absolutely keep the option to continue the medication in mind as I go forward and attempt weaning from Zoloft. Did you BF your son while still taking the medication, and if so, did you notice any side effects? That will (hopefully, assuming we're successful TTC #2) be my next question. In a perfect world I'll wean from the Zoloft and not need to go back on, but I'm realistic in that I may very well end up on an SSRI for the rest of my adult life, and I'm ok with that if it makes me my best self! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-weaning-from-ssri-pre-ttc#post-2706474 Mon, 06 Mar 2017 15:23:10 +0000 Coral 2706474@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@HeartAbandoned: This may not be what you are looking for but I wanted to give a different perspective. I have been on Zoloft to treat anxiety for my entire adult life. When I was prepping to ttc, I went off of it. Unfortunately, I experienced a couple of losses and really needed to go back on. My GP consulted with a a top OB (who has a background in behavioral meds) and said that there wasn't any reason to go off of it. I did only take 25mg a day (the most I have ever taken was 50 mg.) I didn't wean during the third trimester and my son had no symptoms of withdrawl. As far as SSRIs go, I believe zoloft is considered one of the "go-to" meds for pregnancy and bf-ing. </p> <p>If you are set on weaning, then I would do it really really slowly. I have tried following the standard protocol and found that I experienced withdrawl symptoms. I would cut pills into fourths. So, when I was on 50 and I weaned, I took 3/4 of a pill for 2-3 weeks (or until I felt like I had gotten used to it,) 1/2 of a pill for 2-3 weeks, and then 1/4 of a pill for 2-3 weeks. If I was still feeling a bit meh, I took 1/4 every other day for 2-3 weeks. I am not a doctor by any means, but I found that extending the weaning process helped tremendously and felt less like a shock to my system.</p> <p>Now, I feel very stable and emotionally healthy but I think some of it is because of the Zoloft. I'll be TTC in April and intend to keep on keeping on with the Zoloft.<br /> I don't want to change something that is "working."</p> <p>Sorry for the novel! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-weaning-from-ssri-pre-ttc#post-2706466 Mon, 06 Mar 2017 15:13:12 +0000 HeartAbandoned 2706466@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Baby Fever is in high gear over here, but one thing standing in the way of pulling the goalie is me tapering off Zoloft. Anyone have any experience in this? </p> <p>I started taking Zoloft last July (so about 8 months) to treat anxiety. DS was around 18 months at the time, and several life circumstances led me to seek counseling and medication to treat my anxiety. I'm still seeing a therapist once/month. </p> <p>We're getting ready to potty train DS, and once we've reached that milestone, we feel ready to try again, but I want to be totally weaned from the Zoloft before we start trying. I'm feeling quite stable emotionally, and I'm excited about the thought of going off the Zoloft and starting to TTC again, but I'd love to hear personal experiences if any of you have gone through something similar. TIA for answering :heart: </p>