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TTC and Anti d's

I had been on anti-d's for clinical depression for about 6 months. I went straight to my Dr when we decided to TTC and she strongly recommended that I shouldn't be taking any medication whatsoever while TTC and through out pregnancy. The nurse I saw to remove my mirena was also adamant that I should not be taking them. At the time I was on 10mg of Citalopram a day.

As soon as I began to stop taking them I felt worse. This was at the beginning of June. Since then my depression is getting to the unbearable stage again. I really feel like I should have carried on taking my meds and my boyfriend agrees. The thing is my Dr and the nurse at my practice really weren't keen on me taking them at all.

Just wondering if anyone else has continued taking Citalopram during TTC and pregnancy and what their Dr's thoughts have been??

I'm really worried that I will have a horrendous pregnancy if I'm not on the medication, what with hormones etc as well, but surely it would be potentially less harmfull if I was taking them now, rather than waiting till I am actually pregnant. I know when I finally get my BFP me and OH will be so excited, and I'd hate for my depression to ruin yet another aspect of our lives :\(

Replies

  • Hon,

    I'm sorry you're going through this...I don't know much about the meds, a friend of ours carried on taking hers I believe while she was ttc/pregnant but I don't know what her dose was or what medication. Have you tried managing your depression with counselling or therapy of any kind? Just wondering whether this would be a good alternative?

  • hello,

    i havent taken them myself but there are some safe for pregnancy, as you obviously need them at this moment in time it certainly is important you get a second opinion, i know recently there has been a post in pregnancy on it may be worth posting there to see if any ladies are pregnant and taking them, i think it is very irrisponsible for the gp and nurse just to tell you to stop them

    hope you an get some answers and good luck x
  • Thanks for both of your replies.

    Sazzle - yeah I did have counselling at the end of last year but to be honest I didn't find it very helpful. My depression was bought on by losing my father and then my best friend 6 months apart. I did start to get much better, then I also lost my brother! When I went to couselling all they wanted to talk about was my childhood!

    Piggypops - I would like to get a second opinion, but I have found some of the Drs at my practice aren't very helpful at all. I may consider moving surgeries as we have just moved house, although I often think better the devil you know. I have reposted in the pregnancy forum to see if anyone in there has any advice.

    Again, thanks for taking the time to reply xx
  • Hi Tilly,

    I am so sorry you have such a hard time with everything.

    I would definately get a second opinion on the medication honey and I would also re try a different counseller. I am only training as a therapist at the minute but it sounds as if you need help with the grieving process, there are counsellers out there that are really good and specialise in that area.

    hth xx good luck xx
  • i havent had any personal experience of this but when i was on the maternity ward after id had evie i was being nosey and listening to one of the girls on the ward talking to the mw, she was on anti-d's and had to stay in hospital for 4 days so they could monitor the baby, her baby was fine tho and all she did was moan that she wanted to go home!

    good luck honey xxxx
  • defo worth moving surgery, did the gp prescribe the tablets or was it as the hospital, if its at the hospital i would try get an appointment x
  • Well I have bit the bullet and made an appointment with my GP. She knows my history and although I wasn't 100% happy with her last time I went, she was rather patronising about us TTC when I was suffering with depression, but hey, who knows when I'll get better, I'm sick of having to put my life on hold because of this!

    I will see if she will put me back on the meds, then I will change surgeries so I'm not waiting round for weeks and weeks for an appointment.

    Thanks for all your advice and replies.

    Sazzle - The new surgery which I will be moving to have in house counselling, whereas when I went with my old practice it was someone coming in, so may give that a try xxx
  • hiya tilly. just wanted to drop you a quick note to say that i know exactly what you mean about not wanting depression to ruin your lives. in 2008 i got very ill with depression. i was originally on citalopram then changed to venlafaxine. while i was on venlafaxine, i got pregnant. i was advised that it would be better not to be on meds during the pregnancy. i came off them quicker than my doctor advised and really struggled for a while. but i was sent to see a CPN (community psychiatric nurse) so that he could help me stay more positive through the pregnancy. rather than focussing on causes of my illness, he helped me how to change my thinking to 'try and break the negative cycles'. even though it was difficult not being on meds, i truly believed that it was for the best, so that helped me stay strong. my son is now 14 months and i havnt been back on any tablets since coming off when pregnant.
    i know that i waffled a bit, but i hoped that it might reassure you that depression doesnt have to get in the way of everything. yes, its a battle, but its one that can be won.
    i hope that you get the support you need to help you be happy again xx
  • hiya tilly. just wanted to drop you a quick note to say that i know exactly what you mean about not wanting depression to ruin your lives. in 2008 i got very ill with depression. i was originally on citalopram then changed to venlafaxine. while i was on venlafaxine, i got pregnant. i was advised that it would be better not to be on meds during the pregnancy. i came off them quicker than my doctor advised and really struggled for a while. but i was sent to see a CPN (community psychiatric nurse) so that he could help me stay more positive through the pregnancy. rather than focussing on causes of my illness, he helped me how to change my thinking to 'try and break the negative cycles'. even though it was difficult not being on meds, i truly believed that it was for the best, so that helped me stay strong. my son is now 14 months and i havnt been back on any tablets since coming off when pregnant.
    i know that i waffled a bit, but i hoped that it might reassure you that depression doesnt have to get in the way of everything. yes, its a battle, but its one that can be won.
    i hope that you get the support you need to help you be happy again xx
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