Joined: 14 Nov 2006 Posts: 1912 Location: Boise, Idaho,
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Medication And Pregnancy Posted: 06-16-07 20:58pm
I have severe anxiety. It has gotten
pretty bad lately and since I am pretty
close to the end the doctor prescribed me
Clonazapam - the lowest dose possible. I
have only taken a couple because it is
category D and a large part of this
medication is excreted through the breast
milk. I plan on solely breastfeeding.The
good part about this medication is that it
clears the system fairly quickly and I
don't need it all the time.
Zoloft and some other antidepressants are
also used for anxiety. Through my own
"research" I noticed that Zoloft probably
isn't excreted through the breast milk as
much. It is a category C. Those categories
are more important during the first three
months of pregnancy. I am nervous about
taking this med because there has been
some studies that shows babies are at
higher risk of being in the NICU and being
more fussy if this medication is taken
three months or less before they are
born.
I am against meds during pregnancy but my
anxiety is over the top. I also "worry"
(anxiety) what my hormones will do after
delivery if I am this anxious now. Has
anyone else taken prescription meds like
the ones mentioned above during the last
few months of pregnancy? If so, what were
your babies like? I had no medication
during my first pregnancy and I have to
say that Nathan was the BEST baby. It
could have been just his personality??
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kaerbear
Most Diplomatic Poster
Joined: 10 Apr 2007 Posts: 1557 Location: ,
Posted: 06-16-07 21:31pm
i'm sorry to hear that you're feeling that
way. I know this isn't what you were
asking but i just wanted to say i've been
on zoloft before. if you were to take it
just be careful about not quitting it
without easing yourself off of it. i had
depression and ptsd when i took it and i
just stopped taking it one day and i
pretty much had a breakdown. i couldn't
stop crying for literally days on end, so
hard that i would hyperventilate. i was
on the floor in a heap and unable to move.
i kept saying i'll go see the doc as soon
as i can stop crying but in the end i just
went the way i was because i couldn't
stop. they put me on a lower dose and
eased me off of it because they said i
could have had a psychotic episode from it
or something like that. not trying to
scare you or anything, just be careful if
you do take it. i'm sure your doc would
tell you all that, i just wanted to stress
the importance of it.
i can understand the anxiety thing, i've
been there. i was worried about how i
could be during my pregnancy and
postpartum because i've been depressed
before. it's good that you can get help
from your doc with this, just remember
communication is sooo important as well.
talk to whomever you can about it as often
as you need to and don't let yourself feel
bad about it. letting people close to you
know how you are feeling and what you are
going through can be a big help, they can
also keep an eye on you and make sure you
are okay. i won't knock antidepressants
because they work for a lot of people, but
no meds ever helped me as much as talking
and counselling and learning coping
mechanisms that worked for me. good luck,
i hope you feel better soon.
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babyAndy
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 347
Posted: 06-16-07 22:10pm
IF the docs say they are safe then they
are safe. Becareful with those that are
excreted through breast milk...means your
baby will get it.
Zoloft is not an anxiety med, its a
sleeping pill, otherwise known as
immovane, so it should only be taken
before bed.
Taking these meds throughout pregnancy and
while you are breastfeeding can make your
baby a bit drowsy, depending on how much
you take. Be sure to take them only when
you need them and not more. Take good care
of yourself. Maybe look at some
alternative ways to deal with anxiety,
i.e. self talk, journaling, talking about
your anxieties, warm (not too hot) baths,
go for a walk. There are many other non
medication ways of controling anxiety.
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ladylee70
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Joined: 14 Nov 2006 Posts: 1912 Location: Boise, Idaho,
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Posted: 06-16-07 22:48pm
Do you mean that Clonezapam is often used
for sleeping?? That medication does cause
drowsiness and should be avoided when
driving. Zoloft is an antidepressant and
is often used for anxiety. A lot of
SSRI's are used for other symptomology and
not only depression.
Immovane is similar to the benzodiazepine
family and Clonazepam is considered part
of that family. Is this what you are
talking about??
The main reason I was very concerned with
taking the Clonezapam is because it does
cause me to become pretty drowsy. I am
worried about the effect it would have on
my child.
I have taken Zoloft before but I didn't
have the same withdrawal effect. I stopped
suddenly when I found out I was pregnant
with my first. When my doctor did find out
I stopped suddenly, he gave me the third
degree. Just because I didn't seemingly
have withdrawal effects the first time,
doesn't mean I won't another time.
As for counseling, I have tried that many
times. I have advanced degrees in
counseling and psychology and I am very
much aware of the methods they are using
on me. Most counselors/psychologists
actually annoy me when I go to them
because they are just using basic
techniques that you learn in the very
beginning counseling courses. The only
approach that has worked for me was
cognitive behavioral therapy used by an
individual who was very blunt and
straightforward. He was good!! He actually
gave me homework. I have had anxiety
since I was around five years old. I have
taken medication since I was in college.
My whole CNS seems out of whack. Most of
the time, I don't even know what is making
me anxious. I am sure some of the people
on this forum who have heard about my
'woo's" in life I have experienced these
past few years can clearly point out the
most likely reasons for my anxiety.
Perhaps I do need to find a good
cognitive/behavioral therapist!! Actually,
I will do that!! I probably really do need
that again.
Warm baths are wonderful and so is
aromatherapy. I found those two things
really do help with my anxiety!! I haven't
done those lately. I was told a while ago,
I should avoid baths during this
pregnancy. I think that "ban" has been
lifted:) Oh, I really would love a warm
bath!! I should try some yoga or some
other relaxation technique. I really need
to go back to the basics like the other
ideas you both mentioned!
Thanks for the advice.
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kaerbear
Most Diplomatic Poster
Joined: 10 Apr 2007 Posts: 1557 Location: ,
Posted: 06-16-07 22:51pm
isn't zoloft prescribed for anxiety and
ptsd? it's an ssri. i've never heard of
it referred to as a sleeping pill but i
could be wrong. and i seem to remember
having severe insomnia while i was on it.
i think i was taking a pill to help me
sleep while i was on it but i can't
remember the name of it now.
*i remember now it was trazodone and i
hated taking it cuz it knocked me out cold
Last edited by kaerbear on 06-16-07 23:12pm; edited 1 time in total
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ladylee70
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Joined: 14 Nov 2006 Posts: 1912 Location: Boise, Idaho,
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Posted: 06-16-07 22:58pm
kaerbear
wrote:
isn't zoloft prescribed for
anxiety and ptsd? it's an ssri. i've
never heard of it referred to as a
sleeping pill but i could be wrong. and i
seem to remember having severe insomnia
while i was on it. i think i was taking a
pill to help me sleep while i was on it
but i can't remember the name of it
now.
Me too!! I had insomnia while on Zoloft,
so I think I was prescribed Clonezapam or
a medication similar to it to help me
sleep. I took it before pregnancy. After
pregnancy, I got insomnia again but that
was because I was hyperalert due to my new
arrival.
I completely forgot about that side
effect. Thanks for mentioning it. I really
should just try therapy and the
alternatives that you both mentioned
first. I will probably end up being an
insomniac like last time so why make it
worse with a medication?
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kaerbear
Most Diplomatic Poster
Joined: 10 Apr 2007 Posts: 1557 Location: ,
Sorry, This Is a Bit of a Tangent Posted: 06-16-07 23:04pm
well, if you need meds don't feel bad for
getting them. you're a smart person so
i'm sure you'll figure out what you need
to do. i was wondering if you ever
tried....uh i don't know what it's called
but it's this technique where they use a
light or they tap your hands. it has
something to do with rapid eye movement
and reprocessing thoughts and memories to
make them have less of an impact on your
conscious thought. or something like that
anyway. it's not hypnotism it has
something to do with the conscious and
unconscious though. anyway, i was trying
it with a psychiatrist and it worked while
i was doing it, but i stopped seeing the
psychiatrist for other reasons and ended
up just doing traditional group
counselling. i just thought it was an
interesting method and thought you might
know about it. i don't meant to take your
post off topic, i was just wondering.
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monkeygirl22
Supporter
Joined: 20 Nov 2006 Posts: 2399 Location: ,
Thanks: 9
Thanked:1
Posted: 06-16-07 23:15pm
Zoloft is not a sleeping pill-it is an an
anti-depressant. I think baby was talking
about the clonozepam. I have that but have
never actually taken it. That particular
drug is a tranquilizer. It literally is
but does the job when you really need it.
Like my doctor told me-it's better to have
a happy mommy than a depressed and anxious
mommy.
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babyAndy
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 347
Sooory Posted: 06-16-07 23:36pm
Ya ya ya I got the mixed up I actually
mistook it for Zoplicone..whichis the
sleeping pill. Haha SOOOOOO sorry.
Clonazepam is an anti anxiety and it will
make you sleepy, it is meant to sedate, so
it will make your baby drowsy if you take
it while pregnant or breastfeeding.
booo sorry , dunno how or why I got them
confused. but eitherway take all your meds
as little as possible and work with those
alternative methods. I also have a degree
in psych and have been on antidepressants
and antianxieties in the past...but I have
managed to get off them using all the
alternative methods, I do ofcourse still
suffer from time to time, specially when
things get stressful. Self talk is Huge
for me and realizing I do have anxiety and
my fears are often irrational...
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ladylee70
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Joined: 14 Nov 2006 Posts: 1912 Location: Boise, Idaho,
Thanks: 1
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Re: Sorry, This Is a Bit of a Tangent Posted: 06-17-07 00:33am
kaerbear
wrote:
...uh i don't know what it's
called but it's this technique where they
use a light or they tap your hands. it
has something to do with rapid eye
movement and reprocessing thoughts and
memories to make them have less of an
impact on your conscious thought. or
something like that anyway. ... i don't
meant to take your post off topic, i was
just wondering.
I don't think it's off
topic. I have never heard of what you are
talking about but if you remember the
name, please let me know. It sounds very
interesting.
Better to be a happy mommy and not a
depressed and anxious mommy - good words.
That sentence does help!! I really need to
remember that as well.
Thanks baby andy (don't know your name,
sorry). Those medications do sound
similar...simple mistake.
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kaerbear
Most Diplomatic Poster
Joined: 10 Apr 2007 Posts: 1557 Location: ,
Posted: 06-17-07 08:48am
ok it's called Eye Movement
Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).
i found info on it on wikipedia. it looks
like it's mainly for ptsd as it is for
reprocessing memories to make them less
traumatic. i don't know that that would
apply in your situation, i was just
curious as to whether you knew anything
about it. i think it's rather new.
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annesian
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 12 Jun 2007 Posts: 27
Posted: 06-17-07 09:29am
I have anxiety and panic disorder. I've
had it for the last 19 years, and I refuse
to take anything for it. Knowing that the
anxiety, although frightening at times, is
harmless makes it easier for me just to go
with the flow. It's up to you if you feel
you really need it. You were very wise to
research these medications, so kudos to
you!
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