Getting off Zoloft

[homebirthing]

Apparently I am NOT supposed to be on Zoloft during pregnancy, so I have to wean off in the next week. I am only on 50mg, so I am going down to 25mg, and then off. They are planning on putting me on Buspar for anxiety, which is a class B drug, but the more I read about the side effects, the less I want to do it.

Does anyone here have any experience with anxiety and pregnancy. Is there a med that you are able to be on? I am terrified to go off Zoloft, as I just went on it in April, and it has been a Godsend.

Sarah

[lilkat]

I was on Zoloft before DH and I started TTC. I, too, weaned myself from 50 to 25 then off. I was determined to get through the pregnancy without it. The natural high of excitement about pregnancy lasted through the first trimester, but my anxiety really started to return at around 19-20 weeks. I talked to my GP and my mw, and both agreed that the risks of Zoloft, especially after the first trimester, especially in such a low dose, are virtually non-existant. Whereas the effects of my anxiety (nausea, vomiting, sleeplessness, not wanting to exercise, suicidal thoughts) are really bad for my baby. So I started taking it again. I'm only on 25mg now, but I am feeling better and my diet and sleep have improved.

I know it's a hard choice to make. You'll have to weigh the pros and cons for yourself. But remember that it is so important for you to be as healthy and happy and relaxed as possible right now. Good luck, mama!

ETA: congrats on your newest LO, btw! Now we're pregnant in WSP together! Stay warm

[radiowave]

Hi,
I have been on prozac for almost 15 years, and despite lots of therapy, exercise and you name it, every time I have gone off of it I have gotten seriously depressed. So, before I started ttc I went to a reproductive psychiatrist, she studies and treats women who are pregnant or post-partum...after a long evaluation she recommended (strongly) that I stay on the prozac througout my pregnancy...she did say that they would lower my amount at the very end of the pregnancy to try to limit any withdrawal that the baby might have...she also supports me continuing it while breastfeeding...basically she felt that the risk of not taking it was higher than the risks of taking it...prozac is considered to have minimal effects. And if you are depressed during pregnancy, in addition to all the possible problems with exercise, eating right and bonding, your body releases a chemical (cortisol) that affects the baby, and could make it much more likely that the child will have depression in the future. So. I think it is about weighing risks. And I think that prozac might be an option for you. I know it is a really difficult decision. I tend to feel a little defensive about it, especially in the natural living community, because we are all trying to keep chemicals out of our body in general...but for me it is necessary. Good luck.

[homebirthing]

The anxiety med that they want to switch me to looks way too scary. From what I can tell, the risk of Zoloft is in the third trimester, so I am thinking that I will go down to 25mg and stay on that until 27 weeks, and then decide from that point. I will have been on it for a year. I will keep my appointment with my doctor on Tuesday and go over that plan with her.

[PrayinFor12]

Hey Sarah,
My prob isn't anxiety, but I wanted to share that I know the feeling here:

I have chronic Lyme disease and am on a powerful antibiotic. I have the option of staying on this dangerous antibiotic, or getting off and letting the Lyme take over. It's very difficult - the Lyme would almost surely kill my baby if I didn't take that med, but the med's dangerous too.

Anyway, I know the feeling!

[bunnybartlett]

I took zoloft through pregnancy

from about 28 weeks on.For anxiety.long story.stress is bad for your baby as well.weigh the pros and cons.Zoloft is the safest antidepressant for pregnancy and nursing....

[lizzylou]

I've heard that Zoloft is one of the safest anti-depressants during pregnancy.

Weaning is difficult. Reduce your dosage very slowly. I would do some research on whether weaning during pregnancy is adviseable.

[lilkat]

Originally Posted by DoulaSarah

From what I can tell, the risk of Zoloft is in the third trimester...

Where did you get that info? I was under the impression that the first trimester was most risky... Hmmm... I may have to re-think my own plans. Thanks for the information!

[Red Sonja]

Not in your DDC, but I was on Zoloft during my pregnancy with DS. I decided to stop taking it in the 3rd trimester because I was worried about him having withdrawal after the birth. I wasn't on it for depression but as a last ditch (unsuccessful) attempt to control migraines. I agree with the PP about weaning down off of it very slowly, I tried to stop it too quickly and ended up suicidal. I started taking it again and weaned off of it with the help of another med after the birth. I don't want another mama to have the same troubles I did, so just please be very careful as you come off of it!

<slinking back to the July DDC now >

[homebirthing]

Zoloft and Pregnancy: An Overview
Zoloft® (sertraline hydrochloride) is a pregnancy Category C medicine, meaning that Zoloft could potentially cause harm to your unborn child. This is especially true during the third trimester of pregnancy.



"A recently published case-control study has shown that infants born to mothers who took selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) after the 20th week of pregnancy were 6 times more likely to have persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN)

[ashleyelizabeth]

There are very well studied effects of deperssion and anxiety on pregnancy including an increase in preterm birth and low birth weight babies (not to mention decreased bonding in utero and post partum). There are no conclusive studies at all about problems with either Prozac or Zoloft during the first or second trimester of pregnancy. While *some* (a very small number) of babies experience withdrawl symptoms after birth if an SSRI was taken during the third trimester, these problems are temporary, very short lived, and very minor. While medications in pregnancy are, of course, an individual choice most psychiatric providers will tell you that the benefits outweight the very small and minimal potential risks. Sorry, I know this sounds a bit too opinionated, but this was the topic of my master's thesis! Good Luck!

[CherryBomb]

I'm not in your ddc, but I'm currently weaning off of sertraline/zoloft. I've been taking 50mg my whole pregnancy and am weaning off by taking it every other day until what I have left is gone. Good luck!!

[zonapellucida]

I am on Klonipin: higly addictive but I have been on it for 10 plus years