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Has anyone ever taken anti-depressants for dealing with infertility and/or loss? (X post)  

post #1 of 32
6/23/08 at 2:43pm
Thread Starter 
I am contemplating getting a referral from my ND to see a Psychiatrist to explore the possibility of anti-depressants so that I can (mentally and emotionally) survive. This is unbearable. I feel like I’m strangling in my own grief and pain and its not getting any better. Therapy, support groups, volunteering, keeping busy with interests and hobbies, etc has not helped.

I would like to get your take on this – especially if you have used them or even thought about it for this purpose.
post #2 of 32
6/23/08 at 7:44pm
, barose. I'm sorry your pain is so intense, and I wish there were something I could do or say to give you relief.

I have thought about taking antidepressants, but that's as far as it's gotten. I know I'm no longer myself anymore, and I have a hard time finding the joy in things anymore. A good friend of mine used anti-depressants, and was very open with her counsellor that if her insurance would pay for IF, then she wouldn't have needed to be there (the insurance did, however, have good mental health care).
post #3 of 32
6/23/08 at 7:50pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by kristenok18 View Post
, barose. I'm sorry your pain is so intense, and I wish there were something I could do or say to give you relief.

I have thought about taking antidepressants, but that's as far as it's gotten. I know I'm no longer myself anymore, and I have a hard time finding the joy in things anymore. A good friend of mine used anti-depressants, and was very open with her counsellor that if her insurance would pay for IF, then she wouldn't have needed to be there (the insurance did, however, have good mental health care).
Wow. I feel so bad for her.

I know what you mean. I'm no longer myself either. I always feel like I have to run and hide from life. Its awful.

This is not my first time thinking about this. I did before, but was too afraid of the side effects, or not having the right medication
post #4 of 32
6/23/08 at 8:30pm
I was on medications prior to ttc.
After my recent unsuccessful IVF, I seriously considered going back on meds. I continue to go back and forth about it.
My thoughts are that it can't hurt, if that is what you need to take the edge off and make it through the day.
I would consult with a doctor and see what they have to say and then make the decision to take meds if they are prescribed.
The nurse at the doctors office continues to remind me that it is ok, if i need to start my meds again.
Infertility is such an emotional rollercoaster. And the lows are so painful.
post #5 of 32
6/27/08 at 3:46pm
i agree with you - i am still on my meds. i was on them for years, before we even started trying to have a baby. my OB recommended that i stay on them because trying is so stressful. i have and now with failed ivf #1 thinking i need an increase or a change.

barose - i would call you dr and get a px it may take a couple of months for the meds to kick in - it is worth a try.
post #6 of 32
6/27/08 at 7:58pm
I never did for IF, but thought about it. Really, thinking back to everything we went through in our IF journey, anti-depressants at an earlier stage probably would have been a good idea.

I am on zoloft now after the loss of my daughter last July. After composing several suicide notes in the shower and even figuring out how to make it look like an accident so my girls would never have to know what really happened, I decided I needed some help dealing. Zoloft was the second med I tried - the first actually made things worse, so close supervision is, imo, a must.

One thing that it did for me was allow me to see where I was failing myself, in terms of self-care. I now have the energy and interest to remember to take my vitamins, eat right, brush my teeth, etc, all of which, at the end of the day, leaves me feeling so much better. I also was able to go find some really good fish oil supplements that have also helped me tremendously.

I don't know if you have tried herbal anti-depressants, but that was where I started, because I wasn't convinced I needed anything. The herbs helped, but not enough and not consistently, so I went for the pharmeceuticals. Once I am through the anniversary of the loss, I plan to start on the herbs again. I think that combined with the fish oil may be enough now.

This is such a long, hard, unfair journey. I hope you are feeling better soon.
post #7 of 32
6/28/08 at 12:48am
Quote:
Originally Posted by barose View Post
I am contemplating getting a referral from my ND to see a Psychiatrist to explore the possibility of anti-depressants so that I can (mentally and emotionally) survive. This is unbearable. I feel like I’m strangling in my own grief and pain and its not getting any better. Therapy, support groups, volunteering, keeping busy with interests and hobbies, etc has not helped.

I would like to get your take on this – especially if you have used them or even thought about it for this purpose.
I take wellbutrin... and it definitely helps. I started taking it after my nephew died from SIDS. I was a wreck for a long time, still am some days. I chose wellbutrin b/c it is safe during pregnancy and while bf. A lot of the antidepressants are safe to take while pg... but not w/ bf. Or they want you to wean off of them a couple of weeks before delivery (some of them can cause baby to have some withdrawl symptoms after delivery). My personal belief... I would rather be mentally stable w/ meds on board, than crazy on my own! don't be embarrased to have to take something... I was very anti meds cause i always thought that was for "crazy" ppl or ppl who weren't quite right. I have definitely changed my mind! Good luck!
post #8 of 32
6/29/08 at 12:07am
Thread Starter 
I have an appointment to see my ND this coming Tuesday. I called to get a recommendations (don't need a formal referral because I have a PPO) and she still wants to see me first. She may have something for me though I have no idea what that could be - especially coming from an ND.

I feel like I have been going downhill fast during the past few weeks. Socially, I'm a mess, I'm spacey as he11 and/or angry. I stay home when I'm not at work because I don't want to face the things that bring me so much pain when I'm out. It has been bad for years before, but I feel like I'm taking a turn for the worst.
post #9 of 32
6/30/08 at 3:44pm
I took St. John's Wort for a good while while sorting out some IF crap. It was helpful, and I'd do it again, and I would go for the all out pharmaceuticals if that's what you need too.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this.
post #10 of 32
6/30/08 at 5:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by barose View Post
I have an appointment to see my ND this coming Tuesday. I called to get a recommendations (don't need a formal referral because I have a PPO) and she still wants to see me first. She may have something for me though I have no idea what that could be - especially coming from an ND.

I feel like I have been going downhill fast during the past few weeks. Socially, I'm a mess, I'm spacey as he11 and/or angry. I stay home when I'm not at work because I don't want to face the things that bring me so much pain when I'm out. It has been bad for years before, but I feel like I'm taking a turn for the worst.
I am so sorry barose. If this is what you need to feel better, then please do it. I've followed you a good bit here. And just in case it helps even just a little, you'll be in my thoughts.

I hope you feel better.
post #11 of 32
7/2/08 at 7:11pm
I took Wellbutrin while I was on Clomid. Infertility wasn't my only issue at that point and I did go to therapy for about two months as well. Having gotten some other stress issues out of the way as well, when I stopped Clomid I decided to stop the meds as well (Clomid made me very emotional and I refused to stop my meds while still taking it). My RE said that Wellbutrin was a good choice and I could take it throughout, but I did ok without it from that point.

The wellbutrin helped me enormously. It helped me to be in control of my emotions and stop crying long enough to actually deal with them and some other stuff in my life (work/school/family issues). The therapy was good, but I don't think I would have been able to do anything with the therapy without getting my emotions under control.
post #12 of 32
7/2/08 at 7:14pm
Thread Starter 
My doctor gave me an Rx for Wellbutrin and recommendations for OTC herbal/amino acids incase I want to go that route instead.

I haven’t done much research on Wellbutrin yet so it may be a few days before I decide on which way to go...

I've been feeling queasy for the past few days again so I'm reluctant to take anything - don’t want to make it worse.
post #13 of 32
7/2/08 at 10:54pm

I take Cymbalta

and have taken some form of anti-anxiety throughout my 10 year struggle with infertilty. I hope you get some relief ((hug))
post #14 of 32
7/2/08 at 11:43pm
I was on anti-depressants when I was first trying to conceive. My GP put me on Celexa. I was taking bromocriptine because of elevated prolactine levels. The insert for Celexa says not to takes these two things together. I asked the OB/Gyn, the GP and the pharmacist about this and they all said not to worry. So I didn't. I was just very frustrated that for the two whole years I was on Celexa I didn't menstruate once. I had several rounds of Clomid to no effect. Celexa and bromocriptine occupy the same receptor in the brain so one was canceling the other out.
I took Wellbutrin too for a month and had vaginal bleeding the entire time.
Make sure what ever anti-depressant you take it is compatible with your reproductive goals!

Also, are you sure that depression isn't a co-symptom with infertility rather than a result of it? In my first try at getting pregnant no one really took my thyroid levels seriously. After I was done trying I ended up at an endocrinologist for other reasons and lo and behold I now have better cycles and less depression (and lower cholesterol and lower prolactin and....)

Best of luck. I hope you get to feeling better.
post #15 of 32
7/3/08 at 1:24am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Masel View Post

Also, are you sure that depression isn't a co-symptom with infertility rather than a result of it? In my first try at getting pregnant no one really took my thyroid levels seriously. After I was done trying I ended up at an endocrinologist for other reasons and lo and behold I now have better cycles and less depression (and lower cholesterol and lower prolactin and....)

Best of luck. I hope you get to feeling better.
Actually, I was talking to a ND that specializes in fertility and she mentioned that though my PCOS doesn't even show up in tests due to my diet and lifestyle, I still could be hypothyroid and should do extensive testing (not just the standard one). That would contribute to depression and lack of ovulation...

So much to think about.

NicoleMarieLG - for you too.
post #16 of 32
7/3/08 at 12:08pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by barose View Post
Actually, I was talking to a ND that specializes in fertility and she mentioned that though my PCOS doesn't even show up in tests due to my diet and lifestyle, I still could be hypothyroid and should do extensive testing (not just the standard one). That would contribute to depression and lack of ovulation...
Yes, absolutely do the tests! I am hypothyroid and my gp never caught it because it is what he termed "the low end of normal." Well, the RE said that there is no low end of normal, you either are or you aren't, and he ran a separate test that confirmed that I am. Long story short, my cycles improved and the raging moodiness I thought was just part of my life improved too.

Which is not to say that you aren't depressed as well - as I have learned over the last few years, they can co-exist. BUT, treating the hypothyroid was so helpful. And, fwiw, I was told I would never have concieved without the treatment.
post #17 of 32
7/12/08 at 6:49pm

I started taking Wellbutrin

a week ago to help with the feelings I have after losing my son last month. I also took it for about a month after my m/c (had a lot of other stuff going on then too and DH and I almost split I find it to be very helpful- it didn't numb me or really help me get over anything, it just made it so that I don't think about it every second of the day. I was an absolute wreck after my son died and I still am sometimes, but I don't sit there and just think about it for hours on end. My MW prescribed this anti depressant because it is also safe to take while pregnant, since we are going to TTC in November and she wants to me take it for 6 months.
post #18 of 32
7/12/08 at 10:54pm
Thread Starter 
love14 - I am so so sorry to hear about your loss. I cant imagine what you're going through right now. Its good that your MW gave you something to help with your pain.

--------------------

This week I started taking 5-HTP and I'm glad to say that its helping me much faster than I though it would (almost the same day). I'm taking 200 mg/day; 100 in the morning and 100 in the afternoon (but may increase it), but its been a HUGE help for me so far.

I also have an Rx for Welburtin just in case I feel like I need something stronger...
post #19 of 32
7/13/08 at 1:38am
Q for you- what is the best approach to start with- would you make an appt with your OB, RE, or a shrink to pursue a Rx for anti-depressants? I am currently at a standstill and not seeing anyone, so I am unsure what direction to take. Thanks for any help!
post #20 of 32
7/13/08 at 2:26am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tootles23 View Post
Q for you- what is the best approach to start with- would you make an appt with your OB, RE, or a shrink to pursue a Rx for anti-depressants? I am currently at a standstill and not seeing anyone, so I am unsure what direction to take. Thanks for any help!
I saw my Natropathic Doctor (my PCP) for this issue. I was looking for a recommendation for a Phys, but I think she fit my needs pretty well in the visit since I've already tried regular therapy and support groups for years and wasn't going very far. Since I have a PPO, I don't need a formal referral so I could have seen a Phys thats in my network on my own if I wanted to. My OB is very western medically minded and I suspect she would have just wrote me an Rx after a five minute conversation. My ND spent an hour with me in contrast. I think its depends on who you feel comfortable with the most.
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Mothering › Forums › Pregnancy and Birth › Fertility › Infertility › Has anyone ever taken anti-depressants for dealing with infertility and/or loss? (X post)