Psych meds while pregnant

[MichelleO]

Can someone please list medications they were on particularly anti psychotics while pregnant ?

[DownUnder91]

I was on Sertraline (Zoloft) which is an SSRI antidepressant, while pregnant. Wasn't on any antipsychotics until baby was about 7 weeks old. Then it was olanzapine followed by quetiapine. Baby was exclusively breastfed while I was on both with no ill effects.

[BronSyd]

I didn't take it but was suggested to take quetiapine in the last few weeks of my second pregnancy.

[Cicerenella]

I'm currently taking olanzapine during pregnancy. I am taking 10mg at the moment and the plan was to increase that immediately after giving birth, but I might go up to 15 in the next couple of weeks because I want to start taking sertraline because I've become depressed in the last month or so. My doctor is comfortable with me being on a high dose antipsychotic and antidepressant combination, but if it isn't adequate in controlling my mood, I may be hospitalised for ect again (or possibly take lithium but I am not really that interested in doing that.)

[MichelleO in reply to Cicerenella]

Did you have your baby yet ?

[MichelleO in reply to Cicerenella]

Did the doctor say there will be withdrawals in the newborn?

[Cicerenella in reply to MichelleO]

No baby yet (I'm due in early September). I haven't really had an option but to take medication as I have rapid cycling bipolar disorder, and have had this diagnosis since my late teens - without medication I have 4-6 episodes a year, and not a lot of time where I am well in between episodes. I am more or less stable on medication, so given that, I've felt that the risk of drugs is worth it. My doctor has mentioned the possibility of withdrawal when the baby is born, and I have also seen this professionally - it concerns me, and it's definitely not something to take lightly, but I am confident that if it happens the baby is going to be well looked after and we will cope with it then.

[MichelleO in reply to Cicerenella]

I have no choice but to be on it either I shake uncontrollably without it and don't sleep I start disassociating and terrible feelings I'll have to stay positive and hope for the best. Is everything going good with the baby so far like no defects ?

[Cicerenella in reply to MichelleO]

We just had the 20 week scan, and I have started to feel her moving which is a pretty big milestone for me as I didn't really get that last time, and the baby is healthy and growing well. I'm a complete mess, but the pregnancy is going well

[MichelleO in reply to Cicerenella]

Same here I'm angry at my son all the time he's so hard to handle and I'm constantly worried all day about what this pregnancy is going to do to me. I'm just now 12 weeks and doing the first testing in a couple weeks. I hope everything goes smoothly for you !

[Ellie_at_APP Partner]

Hi MichelleO

I don't have any personal experience of taking anti psychotics during pregnancy but I thought you may find these links helpful.

This is a website where you can search any mental health medication, and it lists all side effects etc including whether it is safe to take during pregnancy: choiceandmedication.org/ncmh/

or this website, which also gives very good advice, again you can search specific medication: medicinesinpregnancy.org/Me...

The most important thing though is that you get advice from your psychiatrist, ideally a perinatal mental health psychiatrist (who support women who have mental health problems during and after pregnancy), so that they can give you good advice, and balance well the health of the baby and your own health. It's so important that you stay as well as possible during the pregnancy.

I hope this is helpful,

Ellie