Quetiapine in pregnancy: Hello everyone... - Action on Postpar...

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Quetiapine in pregnancy

Suleyann profile image
15 Replies

Hello everyone, I haven't been on this forum since I was very ill with ppp. I am pretty much fully recovered bar the odd bump in the road. My youngest son is 3 in November.

Since being ill I have been diagnosed with Bipolar disorder and take 300mg of quetiapine and 200mg of sertraline.

I am considering another pregnancy and just wondered if anyone has taken quetiapine or other antipsychotics during pregnancy? And what your experiences were?

Many thanks in advance!!

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Suleyann profile image
Suleyann
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15 Replies
Bumblebeeee profile image
Bumblebeeee

I was on serterline and quetiapine throughout my last pregnancy. I was always told it was safe and had no problems with the baby. They kept me in hospital after the birth for a couple days to monitor the baby to make sure she had no withdraw affects but all was fine x

Suleyann profile image
Suleyann in reply to Bumblebeeee

Many thanks for your reply...did you receive any perinatal mental health care?

Bumblebeeee profile image
Bumblebeeee in reply to Suleyann

Yes I had the perinatal team from the 28th week of pregnancy I think, and had to see the mh recovery team too throughout pregnancy. Also regularly saw my health visitor and had a support worker. There was a lot of support to reduce the risk of ppp again x

Bluelady-sing profile image
Bluelady-sing in reply to Bumblebeeee

How much were you taking?

Bumblebeeee profile image
Bumblebeeee in reply to Bluelady-sing

200 serterline and only about 25 quetiapine through pregnancy then 300 after delivery but was allowed to breastfeed whilst on 300. I was quite stable during my pregnancy tho so only on very low dose x

Suleyann profile image
Suleyann in reply to Bumblebeeee

I'm on 300mg now and 200 sertraline...I'm hoping I'll be ok if I was to get pregnant again...I desperately want another child but I'm very worried about a return of ppp

Bumblebeeee profile image
Bumblebeeee in reply to Suleyann

Just get as much support in place as you can if you get pregnant. And even if it did return, it’s only a very small time of your life compared to the life you have to share with your new baby. And there’s a 50/50 chance you might not get it at all. Good luck x

Suleyann profile image
Suleyann in reply to Bumblebeeee

Many thanks...x

Bluelady-sing profile image
Bluelady-sing in reply to Bumblebeeee

Exactly.

Bluelady-sing profile image
Bluelady-sing in reply to Bluelady-sing

Baby gives you something to live for !!@

Bluelady-sing profile image
Bluelady-sing in reply to Bumblebeeee

How much quetiapine did you take

Jen84h profile image
Jen84hVolunteer

I was on quetiapine after my first episode of pp I became pregnant with my second whilst I was still on the quetiapine. I decided I would gradually stop the quetiapine and by the time I was about 15 weeks pregnant I stopped the medication against most of my medical professionals advice. I unfortunately had pp a second time. Looking back for me I wish I had stayed on the quetiapine.

I found it initially very very hard having pp a second time but I finally really started to open up and let the health professionals help me. I’m lucky in that Ive made a good recovery fairly quickly (a year ago that I left hospital) and actually feel better then I’ve felt for a very long time. It’s a hard one and very personal to you and such a hard decision to make. Ultimately for me I have two little boys (2 and 1 years old) that everyday make me smile and although was hard initially, which was such a relatively short time that I was ill and I am now well and I’m so glad I went ahead with the second pregnancy.

Lavender37 profile image
Lavender37

Hi, I was given a diagnosis of bipolar a few years ago. I was taking 200mg quetapine during pregnancy, which I was told was lowest therapeutic dose to be effective. My baby is now 11 months and no issues. I became unwell with postpartum psychosis a few days after birth and they increased the dose to 500mg quetapine with support of mother and baby unit. 500mg and 100mg lamotrigine helped stabilise me within a period of 4 months postpartum.

Bluelady-sing profile image
Bluelady-sing

So taking medication in pregnancy did not prevent illness. The 200mgs you did take did it effect baby

boat1 profile image
boat1

I took lithium last few wks of pregnancy. Then lithium and low dose of quetiapine to rest post birth. Good care plan essential. Epidural (,planned) helped a lot. Rest post baby esp night. Had two babies no relapse post PPP

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