antidepressants and IVF/TTC

[SueQiwi]

Hi there~
My counselor is recommending I go on antidepressants for the short term to help lift me out of this hole after back-to-back miscarriages. I was wondering if anybody knows a safe antidepressant to use when trying to conceive? I think this will just make me feel more crazy if I'm worried it's going to jeopardize my chances of having another baby.
Thanks for any input.

[sorcet]

There are so many different classes of anti depressants I believe none are pregnancy category B though all are C or D you would really have to go over the risks and benefits with your RE I would think. I know many woman who take them and have very healthy babies... And u need to be healthy to continue this journey good luck and I hope you bring home your baby soon whatever u decide

[leorira11]

I take Effexor (I've suffered from depression for years - and Effexor was the only thing that worked for me).

I consulted with a psychiatrist who is a specialist in what drugs you can/can't take while pregnant/nursing. He said that the Effexor is fine for pregnancy, but it's probably best to wean to Prozac in the third trimester so that the baby doesn't go through withdrawal after birth (which can happen with Effexor but not with Prozac). He said Prozac is fine for breast-feeding.

In the end, my boys were born so early, that I was still on the Effexor. I asked him and the neonatologist about pumping breast milk while still on the Effexor and was told it wasn't ideal, but better than formula.

I think Prozac (which is the first step anti-depressant - and probably the first thing your doctor will try) is fine.

Feel better. <big hugs>

[blueeyedreamer]

I'm on Zoloft (sertraline) and my dr said its ok. Zoloft is one of the preferred. I consulted a perinatologist for drug advice because I take a lot. Take care and good luck. I am happy with my progress on Zoloft. I've been on it for 5 years now.

[Pocos]

I had the same question - I am glad to know we can take care of depression with medication while TTC or doing IVF. I will talk to my doctor. I have been feeling really down lately,can't sleep very well, dont feel like living anymore. For me, life is worth living if you have someone to care for, children. This road is not easy. Thanks ladies.

[Sdtryingagain]

I'm in the field of psychiatry so have some great references that might be helpful (I hope)

There are a few great websites to help you sort through some of your questions:
http://www.womensmentalhealth.org/resou ... -services/

Another one is
Ctispregnanc.org

And another for breastfeeding is lactmed.

For most women with moderate to severe depression the benefits of treating depression outweighs the risks of many antidepressants. Zoloft (sertraline) is a favorite for patients who haven't been tried on anything because of its fairly good safety profile and safety profile for breastfeeding. Many patients are maintained on the medication that has been most effective for their depression and precaution is taken to monitor for the potential risks of the drug. It is always a risk benefit discussion but part of the discussion needs to be the risk of not treating or under treating depression which has vEry serious risks of its own. If your doctor doesn't discuss with you the risks of not taking medications, I'd encourage you to go to someone who does. The docs who don't discuss this are usually not keeping themselves current in this rapidly evolving field.