Antidepressants while nursing??

[freestyler]

Can anyone tell me, if you suffer from depression and/or anxiety (for me it alternates), is there something I can take while nursing that will not affect my babe? I could not ever take anything that even remotely had a chance of screwing up his brain chemistry or something terrible.

But living like this....well, it STINKS. I'm sick of being depressed and tired and anxious. All the exercise, fresh air, good diet, sleep and all, these things aren't helping. And I'm even losing my desire to get out and exercise or even go to the beach anymore. Just moving from A to B takes all my energy these days. It takes 50 times longer than it used to to do ANYTHING, I move slowly these days, I'm just exhausted. I can't concentrate more than 2 seconds on something, I can't remember anything, and I feel totally worthless.

I'm looking forward to feeling good again someday. This sucks.

[mom0810]

YES! Zoloft is the preferred ssri to take while nursing. It is very very very safe. It's been shown in several studies that either none or very very very little gets in the milk.

I took it while nursing BOTH kids and they are beautiful and fine and very happy and healthy.

[freestyler]

May I ask you: WHat was it like to take it? Compared to on and off the meds, what was/is it like? Does it take the edge off, somehow? Does it make you sleepy or just dreamy or what is it like? I'm really wondering what it feels like to take an SSRI. A psychiatrist recommended it like 20 years ago for me---wish I woulda followed his advice back then!

[freestyler]

What does it FEEL like to be on meds for depression/anxiety?

I'm thinking about the possibility of taking meds for anxiety and/or depression (they alternate). I'm wondering: What does it feel like to be on an SSRI? Like Zoloft, for example, but really the other ones too. If Zoloft is the safest while nursing, it's what I would seek out.

Do you feel kind of drugged? Or groggy? Relaxed? Spacey? Normal, but without the all-too-familiar tension? Happy all the time? I just am really wanting to hear about it, from those of you who have been there done that.

Do they have bad side effects? Would I gain weight, get insomnia, or some other yucky things? Or is it just pretty much business as usual, but without the depression and anxiety?

[mom0810]

It really just doesn't feel like anything.

Here's what I hear it compared to a lot. You're in a dark room now. You can't get around or get a grip on where you are because you can't see. When you take an ssri, it's like the lights are turned on. You can see, you can think, you can do things to help yourself because you know where you are. Things look bright again. You feel like, "oh, so THIS is how good life can be!"

Does that make sense?

At the beginning, you may have an adjustment period where you feel a little jittery, you might have insomnia, you might feel tired or not want to eat. You might be a little nauseous and have a little diarrhea. But this goes away in a couple of days to a week, and it's only your body adjusting because there is more serotonin available, and serotonin exists not just in your brain but in your whole body, especially your gut. Hence, the appetite stuff. But it goes away once your body adjusts.

Are you in therapy? Do you have a psychiatrist? When you are on ssri's, it's a good idea to be monitored by a psychiatrist, because they know the meds better than anyone. Your primary doctor will not know as much and can't advise you as well.

With zoloft start at a small dose 25 mg is good. Take that for a week and then go up to 50 which is usually the starting dose.

Best wishes!