Zoloft While Pregnant???

lets see what Dr. Q thinks but here's what I found in the mean time....

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.



Zoloft and Pregnancy Category C

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) uses a pregnancy category system to classify the possible risks to a fetus when a specific medicine is taken during pregnancy. Pregnancy Category C refers to medicines that have not been studied in pregnant humans but do appear to cause harm to the fetus in animal studies. Also, medicines that have not been studied in any pregnant women or animals automatically are given a pregnancy Category C rating.



Even if a drug does appear to have adverse effects in animal fetuses, it's important to remember that animals do not always respond to medicines the same way that humans do. Therefore, a healthcare provider may still prescribe a pregnancy Category C medicine to a pregnant woman if he or she believes that the benefits to the woman outweigh the possible risks to the unborn child.

Thanks Sar!

Man I really need to go off of this drug! I dont want to hurt my little baby! I wonder how long it takes to taper off of the meds??

Is it for depression? Cause there are safe drugs to take for that in pregnancy

Many people are on these meds during pregnancy without much affect...indeed, it's only Paxil that we advise for pregnant patients to NOT be on...Zoloft is usually considered ok if getting off of it is worse for you than staying on (one doens't function as well when off)...always best to have a good dialogue about this with your doc...

That's good news then Maria!

Ok Thanks so much! I am meeting with my doctor on Friday and I will discuss it with him. I really want to go off of it but it is tough! I'm gonna try to see the best way to go about getting myself off of it! I do not take it for depression. I take it for panic attacks and anxiety. I'll let you know what the doctor says.

So Dr.Q, it is safe and wont harm the development of my baby?

Awe Maria...I am sorry about the meds...But I am sure that your doc will come up with a good plan that will help you and find something that may be better while you are preggo...I did some research and you know what i found that depression is associated with PCOS and Diabetes...I have depression also but i have come out of it within the last couple of months and I also had depressvie episodes in my early 20's Dr q is there any truth to this?

I had a girlfriend take Lorazepham while pregnant and her baby was just fine. I highly recommend researching your options. Anti-depressants are addicting and sometimes they can make our bodies believe that we need them. I used to take Lorazepham to go to sleep and for anxiety. Once I decided that I needed not just one but two pills a day I was becoming addicted. So I decided to wean myself off. So I'm saying all this to give you confidence that you can wean yourself off and try something else less powerful. :)

OMG catalina, thanks for sharing this. I took Lorazepam for anxiety and panic as and when needed, may be 3-4/month and I was so darn scared coz its a Cat D medication and i took just a single pill of .5 mg 3 DPO coz I missed ovulation and BD and was having a severe attack. This really eases my mind. Thanks. Ive totally stopped it since 3 DPO and im perfectly fine not taking the pill, just got used to not taking it. I do get panic attacks, but I dont need Lorazepam anymore, Ive found other ways to accept it and control

Glad I did share, especially since it gave you some reassurance! :)

And good for you to take control and accept the anxiety. I know it's hard!!!

The girlfriend I was referring to was pregnant with her second child and her husband left her for another woman, so she took it all pretty darn hard, it was horrible. We were all scared for the outcome of her daughter because she didn't want to eat, etc... but she pulled thru and her daughter was just fine. :)

I totally know what you mean! I just want to get off of these damn pills! LOL! I am trying so hard! I am meeting with my primary care doctor in the morning to see what we can do. I am now down to 25 mg every other day. I am not on it for depression but for panic and anxiety. I get anxiety attacks. And lately my heart feels like it is jumping out of my chest... And the funny thing is I totally think it is my job because on the weekends I am fine and then during the weeks sometimes I get anxious and my anxiety comes back. I do have a stressful job :( I'm trying my hardest though!!!

Awww Keller, good for you! I'm glad that you are trying to wean yourself off. Yeah it does sound like it's your job. Working and juggling our everyday routines is stressful all together!!! Good luck on that! :)

Awww maria - just saw this post - soo sorry you have to go thru this and that you have panic attacks!

I was just sitting around thinking that I really need to get on something and darn quick but now I just don’t know if I should.

All my life I go thru depression bouts but not all that terrible, usually a few weeks and im fine but I go thru more terrible times where I don’t like to leave the house and its not depression, its more anxiety over body issues.

I have struggled with anorexia and Bulemia for years and years and don’t feel worthy or lovable when im over 115-120 pounds. During the TTC journey and all the meds I have gained over 20 pounds since April of 07 and am really feeling the effects. Not only and I not preggo but dealing with the miscarriage and the failed IUI’s and IVF. I feel like life is slipping away and need some help from a drug until I can get past it all. I am afraid I will start throwing up again and don’t want to do that considering I want to get pregnant! LOL!

Anyway, I often feel a tightness in my chest and this over-anxious feeling for no reason and thought about talking to the doc or the therapist I recently started seeing - I thought there were some pills that you could take only on the “bad days” - is that true or is this medication something you have to take daily to feel any relief?

I hope you are doing well and I know you can get off this medication and feel better - you are a strong, wonderful woman and can do it!!!

I developed anxiety during TTC and work stress and was on Lorazepam. THere have been times when I pop a pill and get into the meeting room. Even now, during blood tests, Dr visits, my heart rate increases and I need the pill, but its a Class D and I cant take it :( Also I feel anxious for no reason all the time, its difficult to stop taking the pill inititally. But u will get used to this feeling and then not need the pill anymore. Its 7 months since I havent taken the pill.

Chelsea,to answer ur question, my Dr advised me to take Lorazepam only when needed and not on daily basis and if i wanted to I can take it every day too. Once I take the pill, I feel the relief in 20 mins and it lasts for 6-8 hrs. I took about 6-7 pills/month max and it helped me during the bad times.

something to look into - i really need soemthing, this TTC is killing my spirit!

Thx for sharing - maria - this was a few weeks ago, any updates on this?

make sure u discuss with ur RE if ur gen phy Rxs the med as a lot of them are not great while TTC and the TWW.

Hi Chelsharmony,

I was on an anti depressant called effexor xl after i had some horrible things happen to me in my life and i found that coming off them was one of the hardest things i ever had to do in my life i felt that i couldnt cope without them and that my life was so much better when i was taking them but my doctor told me that if i wanted to have a baby i would need to be off the medication and i felt that having a baby was the most important thing in my life. And no matter what your weight is you are a loveable person and keep telling yourself that, my husband always tells me that no matter what size or weight i am the most special person in the world and that always makes me feel better so keep thinking positive thoughts and you are a wonderful person. Good Luck to you..

Alright, enough of this sh8t. Now I'm mad! Everybody is depressed or anxious? I just got off Lexapro & counseling (2wk intensive out-patient) in Oct 06. Still feeling like I need to start meds up again. I've had two docs to RX. I refuse to do it again. I didn't start this time due to ttc and not wanting to tell RE about it. We have got to do something about this. I believe this is a lot of what is hindering our ability to get pregnant or hold onto the pregnancy. I'm finding a cure dammit!. For now, my cure it just to tell everyone where to go.

But Keller my sweetheart just have the DR find you a safe drug. I know it's easier said than done but give that job the boot. I am thinking of taking a pay cut because my job is stressing me. I believe it is hingdering my ttc journey. Don't worry!!

mrs trgn - you are the best and so very wise!!!

I was telling my hubby that i would like to stop working as much - i only work a regular 40 hour week and my job is not stressful at all, have the best boss and much time to myself since he is an attorney and in court alot so i can get personal things done BUT if i could have only 1 day off every other week then i would feel more involved at home.

When TTC i spend so very much time at the docs or at the accupuncturist or injecting myself or being sleepy, mad, sad or whatever from the meds that when i come home all i want to do is crawl in bed so i am missing all the stuff i should be doing - parent teacher conferences seem like the end of the world to me or cooking dinner or dishes are not getting done and homework or shopping, lunch with mom, etc. Anyway, i dont even know where i was going with all that rambling! LOL!

I know I just reduce my hrs frm 35 to 30 a week. Still not enough i want to go to 20. My DH is getting tired of me. I know I just want a break. I love to work but job must be fulfilling and rewarding. I can't wait to start teaching HS. I got 1 more state exam and 1 class. That is what my problem is. It's ok about the rambling I know what you mean, juggling ur life is stressing!

Keller honey, I hope everything works out well for you and i hope you and your dr. are able to work out what the next step is for you.

A friend of mine was on Welbutrin throughout her pregnancy b/c she has serious anxiety and her child came out perfectly fine.

Have you ever thought about going to a therapist to find out what your underlying problem is (i.e. what is causing your body to react to severely to stress) and maybe alternative ways to make your body behave when dealing with stress even while u take the meds so that it's easier to wean yourself off of them?

I know you'll find the right solution for you and in the meantime, I will be thinking about you and your little baby! Much love and prayers to you sweetie!

You will persevere!

Hi Maria~ I just now read your post! That would be great to come off meds..but just wanted to share my personal story. I'm not on medication for anxiety..but def. have it. I had high stress and anxiety in my 3rd tri w/ ds b/c I hated my job and we were making a huge move. Sudenly out of now where I go into labor at 35 weeks gestation. So, my son was a premie...shall we say stress related!? Probably. If I could go back and calm myself down more, I totally would! So glad I can stay at home this next time around. So just be careful, hun...I don't want the same thing to happen to you!

HUGS!

Kelli sorry to ask, but because of anxiety, did u have elevated BP?

Hi Hopen....you can ask me anything! No, my bp as actually always normal...even in my pregnancy. I'm just the worry wort type..worry about the stupidest things....and while I was prego...I worked my a** off at a job where I hated my employer and we made a big move half way across the country. They found no other reason as to why he was premature...but I know that was the problem...stress & anxiety. He was in the nicu for 11 days b/c of jaundice and breathing issues. To date he is healthy as a horse! :)

Hi Girls!

I am so happy to hear I am not alone in this anxiety and panic issues! But I'm also sorry that all of you are going through this! But so far I am doing good! I met with my doctor today and hopefully I should be off of the meds within 2-3 weeks! He said it will take a few weeks to ween myself off but it can be done! He also said it's ok to take now but I will need to be off of it by the 3rd trimester because that it when it can cause damage to the baby. I am such a worry wart sometimes! But I'm here for all of your anxiety issues! Thanks and prayers to all of you :)