Pregnancy & my rights to medicine???????? Help please.

[Nervouswreck]

I'm 12 weeks , had a terrible time during the first trimester , and thought things were getting better , but I suffer with very severe anxiety for which I'm taking amitriptyline (approved by the hospital) , also am taking cyclizine (approved by hospital)

I am wondering what my rights are while I'm pregnant about medication.

The anxiety is getting bad now , I can see myself spiralling into a dark hole I won't get myself out of , this is the worst I have ever been.

I want to ask my gp for diazepam or Xanax to help the anxiety (have taken diazepam before and it really helped me a lot & I only took it in emergencies)

I'm scared to ask my gp as she doesn't hardly ever prescribe me anything , even when I wasn't pregnant she wouldn't prescribe me amitriptyline when I asked for it , I only got it because I ended up in hospital due to dehydration at 6 weeks (morning sickness) which is what the cyclizine is for.

The doctors at the hospital didn't seem to have any problems prescribing me any meds I needed , they frequently asked me if I thought I was on the right meds & if I wanted to discuss changing/adding anything.

At that point I was just so relieved to be feeling better from dehydration that I said no because I wasn't getting such bad panic attacks and anxiety.

It's got so much worse now & I don't know who to ask , if I ask my gp & she says no & dismisses me again I think I might get really angry at her or really upset (hormones) and I don't want that to happen because I do respect her as my doctor , she just doesn't seem to understand how much this anxiety is killing me!

I must sound like worlds worst mom-to-be , but I don't want the anti anxietys so I can take them all the time , become addicted & feel "high" or whatever anyone else is thought to believe about benzos.

I need them to function normally & stop the panic/anxiety and stress I feel every day , nothing else is working and I'm at the end of my tether.

Do I have the right to medication if I feel that I really need it? I've tried and tried to cope without asking for it but I can't any longer.

Someone please help & don't judge!!!

[AnxietyUKVolunteer]

Hi there

Sorry to hear you're feeling so bad. What is the reason your doctor normally refuses medication? Does she offer you something in lieu - like therapy? It would be unusual for a doctor to refuse treatment altogether!

When it comes to benzos - I read the other day that the doses they're prescribed at aren't actually that high so they are a very safe drug for non pregnant people and not as addicting as people think (although obviously there's always a risk). I wouldn't worry about people judging you, benzos are still very frequently prescribed for panic attacks and severe anxiety from what I've heard.

The risks for pregnant people are a little higher. This is an information leaflet I found which might be helpful for you: otispregnancy.org/files/ben...

I would suggest going back to your doctor and discussing it with her. I have no idea whether it is standard to prescribe benzos to pregnant women or not, but she will be able to explain it to you.

If you decide not to take benzos or your doctor suggests it is too risky, perhaps you could ask about relaxation exercises or a mental health worker you could speak to?

I understand why you are worried about this but try to remain calm and explain your situation fully. Maybe you could try writing down what you are going to say before you go to the doctors so you can ensure you get across your message?

[shiniestar]

Hi, I'm pregnant too and I'm bipolar with associated GAD. I did my first two trimesters med-free because the meds I was on were not safe during pregnancy. They have to be very careful what they prescribe you for various reasons- not least of which is withdrawal in a newborn. For this reason I'm afraid they won't prescribe you diazepam or similar tranquilizers. The best thing to do is to tell your midwife about all your mental health problems and they will refer you to the peri natal psychiatric team which will include a psychiatrist who can review your meds. They will also be able to provide you with someone to talk to about your anxiety. My team are massively helpful; I have contact with someone every week, which is necessary because my anxiety has reached terrible proportions recently.

In the meantime, try other ways of managing your anxiety such as meditation and mindfulness; reducing your caffiene; taking lots of baths. As useless as they all sound, they really do help. Good luck.

[Nervouswreck]

Thankyouu so much for your answers

I haven't yet spoke to her it's just that in the past she has been very reluctant to give me anything even before pregnancy. I was advised therapy , but I am still waiting for anyone to contact me about it (they said there was along wait which is no good in my state as I really do need something now or in the very very near future.

I will read that leaflet thanks but I have done research about benzos myself and there are women who have taken them the whole pregnancy & are fine , the main concern people have is cleft lip/palet if taken early in first tri , I am practically in my second tri now.

I just know my doctor wouldn't give me them .. She's reluctant to keep me on my anti d's but is only letting me keep taking them because the hospital that prescribed them have sent her faxs saying that yes I am safe to tak them.

I wouldn't even want to take them daily or anything , just want to have some there so that if I do get in a bad state of anxiety I can take one to chill out

I'm seeing midwife in July next but she doesn't really discuss my meds with me.

I do have an appointment to see a psychiatrist at the mental health hospital in just over a week so maybe she could prescribe something for me if I explains that I don't want t speak to my gp about this.

I must do something because im worrying about getting into a bad state & knowing that I won't have anything that can calm me down , it comes automatically & trying to calm myself down in those states is practically impossible I feel like such a failure because I read stories about people who have got over anxiety med free , so why can't I! All I know is when I've been desperate before diazepam has always worked for me only a small dose just to relax me , so then I can get my mind relaxed ... If that makes sence.

Thanks to both of u for the advice x

[Hannah1122]

Hi I'm a volunteer from Anxiety UK I understand you may have already considered or been in contact with us but if you want to pursue therapy but the waiting list is too long then we may be able to put you in contact with someone within two weeks at a reduced rate depending on where you live and your household income. If you are a member oor wish to become one we have a specialist pharmacy helpline to discuss these medication questions. What ever you choose I wish you and the bump all the best